Creative Redevelopment of Cities in India : A Catalyst for Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Growth - Knowledge Framework

Overview & Synopsis

Urban India stands at crossroads. By 2030, over 40 percent of the country’s population will live in cities, contributing nearly 75 percent of gross domestic products (GDP). Yet, fragmented planning, underutilized land, and inadequate infrastructure continue to hamper urban growth. Horizontal sprawl has led to congestion, degraded the environment, and created stark inequities across the landscape. An alternative model - Creative Redevelopment - that promotes density in the core urban areas will help revitalize these critical spaces, reduce carbon footprints, improve their livability and breathe new life into these once vibrant neighborhoods. A new report from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank, Creative Redevelopment of Cities in India, lays out a practical framework for achieving this goal, developed in close collaboration with the Government of India. The report emphasizes a systematic approach that moves away from piecemeal, site-based interventions towards an area-based approach that integrates land use with transport and economic planning. The report offers nine redevelopment types: waterfronts, station areas, inner-city districts, historic cores, slum upgrading, affordable housing, peri-urban edges, business districts, and environmental improvements. The report outlines four steps to achieve creative redevelopment at city level and five enablers required to achieve this goal. Different cities will pick different approaches, but the goal is the same: compact, connected, resilient neighborhoods where people can live, work, and move.