Really Developed or Real Estate Developed? — (Un)Growth Scenarios of Indian Cities
60% of worlds population is forecasted to live in cities globally by 2030. Cities are the hubs for global trades offering livelihood for many. With rapid urbanisation, people keep moving into cities for a better prospect.
India has many thriving cities in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkatta, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad (to name a few) having population in upwards of 10 million each including sub urban. India’s growing service industry which are majorly located in cities contributes to roughly 50% of GDP. This has increased the buying power for a common man and thereby the need for investment.
Real Estate is always seen as a mandatory investment for every Indian going back to decades. You ask any lower to middle class family, it would be their dream/ambition to buy a house and live on their own. It comes from an ancestral mindset.
This has led to thousands of skyscrapers in all major cities in India. When you see an aerial view of these cities, you can imagine these buildings can project a superior developed picture. Then, people start comparing it to development and comparing this to major global cities. Maybe it is partially true. But, the true question on sustainability remains. Are the cities equipped with infrastructure to support this kind of massive real estate development?
Can these people in those super natural skyscrapers get basic needs (water, quality air, sewage, road and transport infrastructure, medical solutions, parks, play areas) for next 100 years without a complete disruption?
Do Indian cities have a plan to provide infrastructure for basic survival?
Water — Drinking, Washing, Cleaning ,etc — I used to live in Tokyo for few years and the water which comes in the tap is used for every other purpose be it for consumption or for cleaning. This is the case in many global cities. As a basic thing, cities still struggle to get water during summer for basic consumption purpose.
Transportation —Every corporate Indian living in cities spend at least 2–3+ hours in travel everyday. Offering a clean and hassle free public transportation will increase the productivity of both professional and personal life for the ones living in city. The roads and rail network should be built considering the population/traveling growth for next 100 years in mind.
Utilities — Electricity, LPG, etc — I still feel sad that many LPG companies make their employees drive a 20 cylinder using a bicycle. This is a problem for another discussion. But, when can we possibly have automated gas connections? We cannot keep dishing out cylinders to millions of people living in these high-rise buildings. 24x7 electricity even in times of minor disaster is need of the hour. Just to name a few.
Garbage Disposal — Many Indian cities still dispose mass garbage in centre of the city (because urbanisation picked up and those considered remote areas for disposal have become city now). Many global cities efficiently produce electricity out of garbage. Even a closed garbage truck being run by a fully protected (mask/equipment to remove garbage) driver remains a dream. Let alone classification of garbage types (plastic/decomposable) for now :(
Pollution —The average life expectancy of a Japanese (highest in the world) is around 85 years whereas we are at 65–70 years, and going down drastically. Pollution (especially air) remains one of the key factors.
Parks/Pedestrian & Cycling Pathways — Sorry, we still do not have proper roads for our vehicles. But, these are the ways towards a healthy life. The concern which is most worrisome is that we have barely allocated any place to build any parks/running tracks/cycling pathways at least in future. Trees are becoming a rare scene in city areas (leaving out the expensive areas)
The question is not only about development of basic amenities but how to develop these once the cities have already been filled with thousands of buildings.
Shouldn’t there be a parallel development of residential apartments and infrastructure?
Are we going one step ahead by developing extensive real estate without having supportive infrastructure?
Will this require us to UNGROW completely and start afresh? Will it disrupt the growth which we have already made? Then, all these investments might go for a waste?
Just wondering, if our cities are really developed or just real-estate developed?
