Date of Publication :29th March 2017
Abstract: Every city has its own history, culture and identity. There is no doubt that we need to nurture, preserve and renew the urban fabric with changing times. However, there is also a need to build new cities. A city is an economy of agglomeration; it provides various advantages and opportunities. India’s economy is expanding rapidly. By 2030 it is expected to have grown by five times, During the same period, the country’s labour force is expected to grow by 270 million workers, with urban jobs accounting for 70% of that growth. Today, India is less than 30 per cent urban and the quality of life in its cities is chronically low. However, with 2/3rds of GDP already generated in India’s cities and rural to urban migration patterns accelerating, the country faces a critical challenge: managing this rapid urbanization in a way that enhances the livability of India’s urban spaces. The wave of urbanization that is sweeping across India represents one of the country's greatest opportunities as well as one of its most serious challenges. India struggles with a number of significant barriers that continue to hamper the development of urban infrastructure: complex leadership structures, land valuation challenges, capability gaps, and funding shortfalls are all part of the urban challenge that is effectively holding India back from a new round of dramatic economic growth. India also needs to address the current problems of developing good infrastructure, solid waste disposal, flood management, storm water and sewerage system etc. resulting in urban decay, traffic gridlock and there by a deteriorating quality of life for many of its citizens. With the mess that most Indian megacities are in, it is inevitable not only to drastically take steps to rehabilitate infrastructure in existing cities but build new cities to accommodate this burst in urban population. In many cases, if not all, retrofitting old cities with improved infrastructure and playing the 'catching-up' game is a more expensive and difficult-to-implement agenda. It is logical and quicker to build entire new smart cities from scratch instead. But is India and its inhabitants ready to accept these smart cities, do we have that infrastructure and technology that will help to work for these smart cities. The answers to all these questions are unknown. This research paper mainly focuses on these issues of smart cities and also raises a question whether India should opt for Smart cities or Sustainable cities
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