There are two possibilities as an urban planner when you look at your home towns. One is to be an average planner by believing what your city’s policy makers are doing is fine like everywhere. The other is to let yourself be inspired by the unique qualities of the place where you have grown up. I will always try to take the second approach; even though the truth often makes everyone unhappy.
The dominant urban planning model of the 20th century, characterised by sprawling, car-oriented development, and rigid land-use zoning, has made cities highly emission-intensive which negatively impacts the health and quality of life of many residents. Over the next three decades, an additional 2.4 billion people will live in urban areas, bringing the global urban population to 66%. Population growth, combined with unplanned urban expansion, has significantly increased cities’ vulnerability to climate hazards and increased emissions.
So does Odisha government, with optimistic vision to treble its urban population to 2 crore by 2036, then achieve 60% urbanisation by 2047, driving the vision of a resilient and future-ready Urban Odisha? It sounds interesting but the biggest threats to its vision is practising old-age urban planning that evolved around sprawl, cities with larger areas, converting natural streams into sewage channels etc.
However, urban planning is one of the most powerful tools for solving many of the urban challenges faced by larger or smaller old school cities.
Today everything that cities and towns of Odisha are facing is one way or other due to climate crisis. Perhaps climate change is the biggest equaliser in this urbanisation race, bottom up or top down. Odisha, or say its important cities and towns like Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Rourkela, Berhampur etc. need to change the way automobile-centric cities are planned to cut emissions and build resilience through shared commitment, by replacing sprawl with compact, connected development.
Urbanisation is reality, there is no substitute to it. Bhubaneswar is expanding to meet the aspirations of its inhabitants through traditional urban administration approach. The present approach of expanding Bhubaneswar, like buying larger size pants instead of addressing obesity problems, needs hibernation as it won’t lead it towards what the decision-makers are aiming. Rather, the present approach will be a burden on the city, both financially as well as infrastructure-wise.
The new Bhubaneswar Plan by Singapore-based consulting firm is in between present city and existing Chandaka forest. Perhaps an area that is more of forest land or elephant movement channel, with natural drains as part of urban ecosystem now under vulnerable. Perhaps Bhubaneswar urban ecosystem needs such lands to be more green to survive. The capital city is already facing climate crisis with short or no winter and spring. What we see is more warmer days and a sudden rain leading to waterlogging. On top, what the government is expecting to achieve from new town can itself be possible in existing Bhubaneswar.
The idea of Singapore consulting firm turning Bhubaneswar into another Singapore is simply a joke, until the quality of life in Bhubaneswar reaches where Singapore stands today. By the way, Bhubaneswar the Capital city was established in 1948 when Singapore was non-existent on global map. But in 50 years, Singapore achieved its objective in global urbanisation; while Bhubaneswar in its 77-year journey turned out to be one of the world’s hottest cities.
The choice is simple: What do we want?
Bhubaneswar must focus on creating sustainable, resilient, and inclusive cities through strategies like the 15-minute city, smart city technology, vertical urbanism and circular economy principles. Other emerging ideas include integrating green public spaces, redeveloping declining areas and using data for evidence-based decision making to improve quality of life for all inhabitants.
Through spatial plans, policies, legislation, building codes and municipal by-laws, urban planning sets the blueprint for how cities grow and evolve. The IPCC reports state that more compact land use could cut emissions by up to 25% by 2050. It means cities and towns of Odisha need to fast-track climate-responsive planning that prioritises people, the planet and shared prosperity.
How Odisha cities and towns will deliver these commitments will define the state’s urbanisation. States, cities and towns will have to incorporate six climate responsive objectives into their master plans and relevant land-use plans by 2036. These objectives work together to reduce emissions through compact, polycentric and connected development, while reducing climate vulnerability through risk-informed, nature-positive and inclusive planning. Cities and towns will have to prioritise regeneration over sprawl, foster mixed-use neighbourhoods near transit, restrict development in high-risk areas, secure land for nature, and mandate adequate affordable housing to improve resilience for the most vulnerable.
The present approach of our policy makers are larger area, automobile or car, and concrete jungle-centric city plans. The result is that none of the smart cities stands tall even after decade-long investments. Perhaps these are outdated models. However, the approach that Odisha urbanisation needs is actually from the old school of thought, that is, people-centred urban planning.
Therefore, Bhubaneswar must choose a path that will generate tangible improvements in the health and wellbeing of people, and their environments by strategically integrating people at the core of city management along with cutting emissions, protect communities from climate risks, restore ecosystems, and are vibrant, inclusive places where everyone can thrive.