#DesignForChange: Rahul Kadri on The Need For Grassroots Changes In The Way We Design Our Cities

OVER the last decade, we have seen a slate of contentious urban development and public infrastructure projects in our country. Projects such as the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad, the redevelopment of the Central Vista in New Delhi, the ongoing Coastal Road Project in Mumbai, and now the Dharavi Redevelopment have a signi cant impact on the social, cultural and economic fabrics of the city, and most importantly– on its people.

It is apparent that people are the most important stakeholders in such projects. However, under the current scheme of things, most of these projects are conceptualised and realised through urban planning practices that do not involve the people most   likely to be affected by them. The current model of planning takes a top-down approach where most decisions are taken by         the municipal corporations, municipalities and nagar panchayats (town councils), and lacks involvement from the citizens.

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