India's urban fiascos
Urban development expert Jeb Brugmann talks to Rajiv Rao on his new book Welcome to the Urban Revolution. Here are the excerpts.
What is the gist of your book?
Let me talk about it in context to India. In the next 35 years, India will transition from being 70 per cent rural to 50 per cent urban. Reality is, the majority of Indians does not have any institutional or capital support to find housing in cities. They do what they can on a cash basis within an informal criminal context.
Why is this the case?
India suffers from a post-colonial hangover where centuries-old legacy of urban development are ignored. Plus, there are no pathways where citizens at all economic levels can participate in building cities. Countries that develop this way cannot be stable societies.
So, what indigenous models should we rely on?
The “Chowk”—a street or crossroad that functions as a residential or commercial service core—has proven to be a resilient form of urban development. We should upgrade and renew the chowk instead of tearing it down.
Who has done it well?
Brazil, I would say. In the last decade, Rio decided not to clear its slums—which like Dharavi have a complex ecosystem. City departments, including a water team, and an electricity unit, went from one favela to another creating a set of customised infrastructure solutions for residents.
