JOIN USExperts call for mixed zone development in Bengaluru
Cities have a greater need for mixed zone development to keep air pollution and traffic mobility in control.
But mixed zone development is rejected in cities like Bengaluru because it is unplanned and ad hoc, Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment, told DH.
Speaking on the sidelines of the release of reports — The Urban Commute, And How It Contributes to Pollution; Energy Consumption, and Reducing Footprints-A Guidance Framework — Anumita asked Bengaluru and other cities to give more emphasis to mixed zones as they prepare the master plan.
"People in residential areas like Indiranagar complain about noise, commercial establishments and pubs. But this is because it's not properly planned," she said. "Development should be more transit-oriented. There should be proper accessibility for residential and commercial spaces."
Even as the Union Ministry of Urban Planning called for transit-oriented development and Bengaluru is working to accomplish it, the process would not be chaos-free. "It calls for more inclusive development and more accessible areas," she said. The development in the mixed zones should be demand-based, she added.
Bengaluru's Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) should focus on development around the metro. Though the government is focusing on FAR and FIS, they should look at the two in coordination. "This remains the problem in Bengaluru and Hyderabad," Anumita said.
Mixed zone development is adopted in Singapore and London and this will be an ideal model for other Indian cities.
Rutul Joshi, associate professor, Department of Planning in Ahmedabad's CEPT University, wanted India to get out of the colonial development model and look at community development.
He said Mumbai and Bengaluru have created affordable housing 30 kilometres from the city centre. This provides room for slum development in the cities as people try to reduce the commute time. By doing this, the governments hamper people's employability.
It is seen in most Indian cities that most of the income groups stay together and work from the same locality. Mixed development created around transit systems would obviate high-rise buildings and designated parking lots.