Indian metro regions stand at the very front of this fast and accelerating pace of the country's urbanization process. For instance, megacities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Chennai have to find their way between sustaining and accommodating an ever-increasing population. While sprawl devours the fertile agriculture land and natural systems, there are alternatives: a high-density and mixed-use city built upon a robust system of public transport variant compact city. The problem for such deployment arises with consideration for distinctive sociocultural, economic, and environmental attributes to which a general framework can only partly adjust in metro regions across Indian urban settings.

Urban density paradox in Indian cities

Indian cities are among the most densely populated in the world. There are more than 20,000 people per square kilometer in Mumbai. Delhi and Kolkata are not very far behind either according to the statistics of the World Bank in 2021. For these reasons, density has often been a handmaiden of the compact city approach, though, in India, it has more normally emerged organically rather than as a product of planning. This organic density has yielded congested inadequate housing, and over-stressed infrastructures rather than helping to usher in sustainable living in towns and cities. More than 30% of urban residents live in informal settlements, such as those found in Mumbai, as recorded by the Census of India in 2011 1. Such a situation becomes a giant pitfall for planners who dream of building compact, sustainable cities.

Compact city model in an Indian context

A compact city model is very familiar in most parts of the world in the context of urban planning. It is characterized by a high population density, mixed-use, efficient public transport systems, and more environment-friendly climates. This concept has gone well with cities like Tokyo, Singapore, and Copenhagen. Though its Indian context flings enormous opportunities, this also harbors unique challenges through the diverse nature of its population, imbalances in the social and economic set-ups of neighborhoods, and the quick gait of the urbanizing movement.

Critical traits of the compact city type applied to Indian cities

  • Hugely over-layered city form: the cities in India have been two of the most populated in the world ever. For example, in Mumbai, the population density is more than 20,000 per square kilometer. Delhi is nearly as bad with 12,000 people per square kilometer 2. Compact urban take advantage of such density for optimal land usage, limited sprawl, and sustainable urban footprint. This, however, tends to sprawl uncontrollably into informal settlements, mainly because it occupies overcrowded and infrastructure-scarce spaces that starkly contrast the planned high-density development the compact city model envisages.

  • Mixed-use development: mixed land use in Indian cities is already configured; an element of coexistence of dwelling, commercial, and institutional activities occurs in a tight spatial relation among themselves. It is informal, and unstructured and usually leads to noncompliance with zoning rules; traffic congestion, or under-provision of infrastructure facilities. The compact city model formalizes and optimizes mixed-use development by properly combining housing, workplaces, and amenities inaccessible distances to ensure reduced commuting times and improvements in quality of life.

  • Public transport: the prime characteristic of the compact city model would be public transport which would help to curb dependency on private vehicle usage and carbon footprint. Metro networking is being developed in cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai in India. On the contrary, cities like Ahmedabad and Pune have started BRTS. Last-mile connectivity is one of the critical challenges involved, and then the cost, followed by the need to accommodate all sections to be aligned with the compact city philosophy.

  • Walkability and accessibility: pedestrian access and infrastructural provision be given prime emphasis. Proper footpaths, cycling lanes, and public spaces within Indian cities have not yet been developed. However, encroachment combined with urban design is obstructive to pedestrian walkability, worse for the elderly and people with physical disabilities. Walkable neighborhoods must be assured for India's compact city, which would further lead toward a more healthy and environmentally conscious urban lifestyle.

  • Environmental sustainability: extremely efforts have to be made in the hands of green space maintenance and incorporation of nature in the compact city's urban interface. However, the unchecked sprawling threat of urban areas along with the unconscionable construction activities in Indian cities had resulted in alarming rates of declining green cover. For example, over the last forty years alone, nearly 90% of Bengaluru's green cover has been lost (Centre for Ecological Sciences, 2022).

    Green belts must be protected while roof gardens, rooftop gardens, and urban forests must be encouraged. Stiff policy structures must be put in place for this purpose. Compact City Model in the Indian Context The sociological, economic, cultural as well as government structures of the Country go against the mainstream compact city without much alteration as the principles mentioned above are indeed relevant but modified to suit Indian needs as detailed below.

  • Settlements and housing: the informal settlements comprise the slums and unauthorized colonies, which make up the backbone of the Indian urban population. According to the Census of India in 2011, over 65 million Indians live in slums characterized by water, sanitation, and housing insecurity. City Renewals Such policies must implement upgrading informal settlements into better formal housing without displacing its inhabitants into the compact city model.

  • Socio-economic inequalities: the stark inequalities in Indian cities - high-income million-dollar neighbourhoods stand adjacent to extreme areas of poverty. Compact urban development should address equity while bringing on issues such as affordable housing, equal access to amenities and social integration.

    Housing for All initiatives under PMAY, a housing scheme that provides housing to all, can be directed towards the principles of compact city to reduce socio-economic disparities.

    Governance and institutional challenges: most of the time, India faces issues of governance through fragmented structures and overlapping jurisdictions, which have this tendency to hinder effective governance for urban planning. Take the case of Delhi with many the MCD, DDA, and DMRC, which delay the process and are not so effective. However, organizing such a model of the compact city would require streamlined governance and enhanced coordination among local urban agencies with active community participation.

  • Culture: Indian cities are drenched in cultures and history, and neighborhoods have an identity of community and tradition. Compact urban design should respect and integrate cultural differentiation to make high-density developments culturally acceptable and socially cohesive.

Innovative approaches to implementation

  • Transit-oriented development (TOD): transit-oriented development already has its grounds in India. The Delhi Metro Phase 4 applies TOD principles with the development of high-density residential and commercial hubs along the metro stations. National-wide extension of TOD policies can help much in lessening urban sprawl and improving mobility.

  • Sustainability codes: these will certainly help in including compact city principles under the umbrella of the Indian cities' sustainability framework. Compact development is going to reduce its environmental footprint. Climate resilient infrastructure and green building codes with renewable energy shall allow Indian Smart Cities Mission inclusion. For instance, places such as Pune, Surat, and Jaipur are being kept as examples for exemplifying compact urbanism under sustainable infrastructure development, mixed-use development, and a data-driven strategy.

    Barriers to implementing compact city In the compact city model there are numerous positive factors, and yet it remains one of the highly challenging systems to be used in India.

  • Land use conflicts: high-density development requires land acquisition, which directly puts developers in conflict with local communities.

  • Urban poverty: compact city policies should be sensitive to urban poverty and, above all, would not lead to gentrification that would displace the economically vulnerable group.

  • Political resistance: political issues as well as special interests often create a foe against progressive urban planning.

Problems in the compact city model applied in Indian metro regions

  • Urban spread and poor land use: Indian metros have grown absolutely with sprawl engulfing peri-urban areas with alarming ease. For example, the NCR of Delhi spread into various adjacent states with planning regulations unable to enforce compact development leading to unconsolidated and low-density growth patterns 3.

  • Affordability of housing and informal settlements: although compact cities support dense living, affordable housing in Indian cities is starkly deficient. For example, the slums of Dharavi in Mumbai and Seelampur in Delhi is an examples of where the density of the population often aligns with bad living conditions. Lacking good governance and infrastructure, increased inequalities rather than decreased ones point to the risks of compact development.

  • Infrastructure deficit: Indian cities face chronic deficiencies in basic infrastructure, including water supply, sanitation, and waste management. Such problems multiply manifold in high-density urban centers. For example, Bengaluru produces around 5,000 tons of waste each day, the majority of which is not collected because there is a lack of proper waste disposal systems 4.

  • Environmental degradation: as such compact cities tend to grow vertically. Thus, huge construction activity comes into play in this regard. In metro cities like Delhi, this led to significant degradation of the environment in the forms of air pollution and loss of green cover. For example, Delhi is ranked as one of the highest PM2.5 cities in the world. Hence density is well-required to balance with environmental sustainability 5.

Opportunities for compact urban development in India

Even though compact cities have various issues, it is going to be an opportunity to bring many to better the scenario of urban life in India.

  • Transit-oriented development: metro projects planned in Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai are likely to become the bases for TOD. High-density housing and commercial developments around the hubs will reduce private vehicles and limit sprawl within urban areas.

  • Digital infrastructure for smart growth: data-driven solutions in digital technologies are now being leveraged by urban planners to enhance the management of cities. Geospatial mapping and AI tools can be used to optimize land use and resource allocation in high-density areas.

Retrofitting urban cores

Indian cities have dense urban cores with aging infrastructure. Retrofitting these areas using sustainable building practices can improve liability without resorting to horizontal expansion. Initiatives like Mumbai’s Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment project aim to achieve this balance.

Public-private partnerships: engaging private stakeholders in urban planning can address resource gaps. For example, Smart cities projects have demonstrated the potential for public-private partnerships to improve urban mobility and create mixed-use spaces.

Case studies: implementation of compact city principles

Mumbai: towards doubling density with TOD

High density in Mumbai will provide an enormous opportunity for more compact urban growth. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has undertaken many TOD projects that are directed toward improving connectivity and reducing travel time. The metro rail network is expanding its mileage to over 300 kilometers. The MMRDA targets integration of the transit and high-density residential areas with reduced use of private vehicles 6. Accessibility is still a considerable challenge to affording access for all.

Bengaluru: density and sustainability

Bangalore is India's Silicon Valley as more people are inflating and burdening the infrastructural demands. A transit-oriented developmental approach is underway, where most residential and business locales will be filled along each of the metropolitan corridors. Although Bangalore is going green, it also intends to bring solar energy sources into new infrastructure to achieve greening 7.

Ahmedabad: affordable housing in compact urbanism

Ahmedabad has made great strides in incorporating affordable housing into compact urban environments. For example, in Ahmedabad, the Sabarmati Riverfront is an example of a high-density development with open public green space and recreational activities that benefit its users and the environment at large 8.

Solutions and steps to achieve compact, sustainable cities

To implement the compact city model in Indian metro regions, the following are necessary steps:

  • Policy and governance: the compact city principle must be at the base of urban planning policies. This would mean enforcing zoning rules and the consequent mixed-use and clear boundary definition to check urban sprawl.

  • Affordable housing programs: government programs, like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), need to adopt compact city principles. It should be translated into vertical extension and housing clusters near transit centers.

  • Community participation: involving locals in the plan-making process ensures that diverse populations, among them marginalized populations, are appropriately addressed. Participative planning has well been applied for example in cases of the Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) in Mumbai.

  • Sustainable infrastructure: the call for sustainable infrastructure to balance density calls for investment in green infrastructure-including renewable energy, rainwater harvesting, and waste management systems.

  • Integrated mobility solutions: a fully integrated transportation system of metro rails, buses, and non-motorized transit will reduce traffic congestion and improve access within compact cities.

Conclusion

The compact city model offers a bright future for the sustainable development of India's burgeoning metro areas. This is because Indian cities can balance density with livability and sustainability in a move to address pertinent challenges such as housing shortages, infrastructure deficits, and environmental degradation. However, this vision requires collective efforts at the policy, governance, and community engagement levels for it to be realized. Case studies of Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad show that the compact city principles stand as an efficient approach but focus on 'context-specific responses'.

The future urban India would be best molded by incorporating and adapting the compact city models as an important stepping stone toward further fortifying the building of sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban futures.

References

1 Census of India. (2011). Population census 2011.
2 World Bank. (2021). Population density by city: India’s urban challenges.
3 Ghosh, A., & Joshi, R. (2020). Urban sprawl in Delhi: Planning challenges and policy solutions. Journal of Urban Studies, 23(4), 98-112.
4 Kumar, R. (2022). Solid waste management in Bengaluru: Challenges and opportunities. Indian Environmental Journal, 18(3), 67-82.
5 IQAir. (2023). World air quality report: Delhi remains among the most polluted cities globally.
6 MMRDA. (2022). Mumbai metro: Towards transit-oriented development.
7 Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Report. (2021). Bengaluru: Towards sustainable urbanism. Bengaluru: Karnataka Urban Development Authority.
8 Desai, P. (2021). Sabarmati Riverfront project: A case study in urban regeneration. Ahmedabad Urban Planning Journal, 5(2), 45-60.