Mantras of the Smart City- 2

Smart cities are the cities that use information and communications technologies to improve livability —analyze them to uncover otherwise hidden clues that allow them to judge the effectiveness of programs, set budget priorities and deploy emergency relief the moment disaster strikes.

The real game is understanding, how technology can help make cities smarter:

• Sharing the vision: how politicians make effective decisions based on a shared and consistent vision of the city, notably through public consultation and other means to involve all stakeholders.

• Effective governance: the successful implementation of an Integrated Mobility Plan at metropolitan level is required.

• Long-term political commitment: long-term political commitment is the key to realize the vision of an integrated mobility plan and turn words into action.

• Strong links with land-use planning and economic development: putting integrated land-use and economic development at the heart of transport projects.

• Long-term funding commitment: consistent and long-term funding strategy needs to be in place. 

Hardly a week passes without a mayor somewhere in the world unveiling the next ‘smart-city’. As they go about their business, cities produce a vast amount of data and smartness comes when you put that data to work. So far, this has rarely translated into game changing success: except in the area of public transport, apps using open data have made the jump from interesting novelty to reliable consumer service. Much can be learnt from the sector and panelists from the public transport sector, industry leaders and other smart cities.

Any smart city has to work on building a permanent infrastructure to collect Big Data. Installing hundreds of environmental sensors that will measure temperature, humidity, light, sound and cellphone signals. All this data shall enable the city to become a safer and cleaner city. The sensors can be placed on top of lampposts or other suitable locations.

Smart cities are nothing but they are true data generators, where all sensors placed within a city gathers vast amounts of data. And once the data is collected, it should be available as an open source to the public, so that anyone can access the data and make use of it. This would result in great new applications that citizens will come up with, that will have a positive affect on the city, helping it become truly a smart city.

Environmental sensors, just one of such concept for smart city, there are a lot of other possibilities when turning to sensors and data. For example:

Traffic management
Smart traffic management enabling car drivers to face less traffic jams, as data will tell which areas are busy. Traffic lights can automatically adjust to reduce congestion. Smart parking sensors automatically alerting drivers for free parking spaces and street lights only be turned on if someone is approaching, saving a lot of energy.
Maintenance management
Thanks to sensors, cities could turn to preventative maintenance management, saving the community a lot of money in unnecessary maintenance. Apart from citizens that can report damages on urban elements via smartphones, it becomes a lot more interesting if a traffic light informs the community that a repair is imminent.
Smart grids
Smart cities that contain smart energy grids will be a lot more efficient with their energy. A smart grid will be able to manage all the electric vehicles that require energy. It will be able to sense the amount of citizens present in time and location and adjust lighting accordingly. Smart grids will help community buildings also save a lot of energy and become more efficient.

Of course, these three examples are just the beginning. Cities will take another decade or two before they become true smart cities, where everything is connected.

What is urbanism?

What is urbanism? 

Throughout the centuries urbanism has been about human beings living in sustaining, and stimulating environment. It is the urbanism of cities, which attracts people from nearby villages, neighborhoods and towns, as places of interaction, opportunity, and creativity. What is New Urbanism? It is urbanism for our era. It is the revitalization of vital public space—streets, squares, and neighborhood centers—where people can see each other and meet. This essential feature of urbanism is in danger of disappearing from cities like Delhi.

Urbanism is the key to community life, efficient public infrastructure, and preserving nature. Urbanism is Interaction. Living things interact. The main reason of growth and development of cities is human commerce, commerce broadly defined—economic, social, civic, and cultural. Why do humans engage in commerce? For the rewards and satisfactions: employment, business, learning, creativity, stimulation, culture, politics, and companionship.

The right knowledge and education of Urbanism equips the urban planners and designers of the future with the right tools to come up with new solutions for effective, efficient and aesthetically organised and operated public spaces.

Urbanism is Organization 
We are organisms. Organic life is about ordered re
lationships, habits, and rules. When property owners, government agencies, businesses, and citizens agree on standards for development that sustain community life, the built landscape attracts people and people prosper.

Urbanism is Movement
We are animals and we are attracted to animated things; not the predictable movements of clock faces and freeway traffic, but the unpredictable movements of our fellow creatures. To be alive, a built landscape has to have intriguing, playful, spontaneous human movement, and places where that can be observed.

Urbanism is Color and Self-renewal
Living things are colorful. When things die, they lose their color. When places are replenished—buildings painted, surfaces washed, and landscaping tended—the spirit of hope and investment thrives.

Urbanism is life
City is a place where life comes together, but as we see the urban cities today they have turned unnatural and unhealthy. Urbanism is toxic and has to be regulated any ways. The earlier intimate neighborhoods have been replaced with big blocks, big buildings, and concrete jungles. Towns and cities went from cramped and intense to dispersed and lifeless. The human purposes of urbanism have been forgotten. Massive migrations put diverse racial and ethnic groups in uneasy and un-mixing proximity. Diverse peoples are trying to mix with each other. Urban spaces as gathering places are getting more popular and numerous. Crime rates are increasing. At marketplaces, multi-racial scenes like we see today would have been unthinkable twenty years ago.

There is a lot of work to be done, today we have the knowledge, technology, and sophistication to turn our built landscapes into hospitable, sustaining and beautiful places, as smart cities for future. These cities are places of contact and learning, they need to be healthy and welcoming. Turning our cities around- Turning them smarter is the way forward. Facing and celebrating the public spaces of our communities is key. Care is also the key. We have to care enough to design attractive architecture, maintain existing properties, prune trees, and keep streets/ roads in good condition. But no amount of caring by itself will ever make an interactive, living, walk able community out of sprawling, formless tract and strip development.

Salient Features Of L - ZONE

The zone covers an area of 22,979 hectares and is surrounded by the following:

• NH-10 / Rohtak Road and Railway line, in the North
• On the fringe of, Zone ‘K’, mainly comprising of Dwarka Sub- City, in the East and
• The National Capital Territory of Delhi boundary on it’s southern and 
western sides.

Approximately 46 villages fall in this zone:
1. Tikri Lalan 
2. Jaffar pur alias (Hiran Kinda) 3. Neelwal
 4. Jharoda Kalan
 5. Dichaon Kalan
 6. Surekh Pur
 7. Mundhela Khurd
8 . Kair
 9. Mundhela Kalan
 10.Mitraon
 11. Dindarpur Khurd
 12. Khera
 13. Paprawat
 14. Surera
 15. Zafarpur Kalan
 16. Baquargarh
 17. Shamspur Khalsa
 18. Khera Dabar
 19. Kharkhari Jatmal
 20. Pandwala Kalan
 21. Rewala Khanpur
 22. Chhawla
  23. Kharkhari Nahar 
24. Pindwala Khurd
 25. Kharkhari Rond
 26. Ujwa
 27. Qazipur
 28. Isapur
 29. Dhansa
 30. Malikpurzer Najafgarh
 31. Daryapur Khurd 
32. Hasanpur
 33. Asalatpur Khadar
 34. Daulatpur
 35. Kanganheri
 36. Badusaria
 37. Radhopur
 38. Nanakheri
 39. Jhatikara
 40. Shikarpur
 41. Ghumanhera
42. Jhuljhuli
 43. Ghalibpur
 44. Sarangpur
 45. Raota
 46.Deorala

Najafgarh Drain Basin: Most of the Planning of Zone ‘L’ forms a part of the Najafgarh Drainage basin, which is a sub basin of Yamuna River. The topography of the zone depicts gentle slope from the North to South. The Najafgarh drain originates from Najafgarh Jheel in the South west Delhi- Haryana Border and traverse a length of about 51 kms before joining Yamuna.

Forests: Najafgarh range has 7 protected forests / green areas. Out of these, following protected forests fall in planning ‘L’ zone. 
i) Mitraon – Area about 105 acres. ii) Jainpur - Area about 245 acres, 
both these forests area indicated in the plan . These are proposed to be protected as per the provisions of Forest Act.

Major Existing Campus: Two major institutional campuses related to para Military Forces are existing in the zone. The campus of Border Security Force is located in the Revenue area of village Chhawla where as campus of Central Reserve police Force (CRPF) is located in village Jharoda Kalan. These sites area existing for more than a decade and shall continue to function in near future.

Land use in the following four distinct zones for application of land use control and balanced development. These are follows:

a) Urbanisable Area: Under this category all the broad regional landuse as detailed out in the prescribed Master Plan prepared in consultation with NCRB shall be permitted, e.g. residential, commercial, industrial, government offices, recreational etc. Incase of Delhi, this includes Delhi Urban Area as well as proposed urban extension-2001.

b) Green Belt / Green Wedge: The peripheral agricultural zone in the immediate vicinity of urbanisable area is threatened by expected unauthorized development. A “Green belt / Green Wedge” is proposed with a view to arrest undesirable growth. The major landuses, which are permitted in the category are:
• - Agricultural, particularly high value cash crops. - Gardening
- Dairying.
- Social forestry / plantation.
• - Quarrying.
- Cemeteries
- Social institutions such as hospitals, schools. - Recreational or leisure.
• In case of Delhi, the entire area outside the urbanisable limit falls in the category.

c) ‘Green- buffer’ along the major Transport Corridors: In order to control large scale development along the highways and to check continuous urban development along the major transportation corridors beyond urbanisable limits, a width of 100 mtr. on either side along National Highway & 60 Mtr. on either side along the State Highways, is to be kept as green buffer. Only the activities that are permitted within green belt / green wedge are allowed.

d) Remaining ‘rural land’ includes mainly the vast agricultural land, forest, ridge areas and rural settlements. Following major land uses can be designated, with strict prohibition / control on large scale / hazardous industries.

HIERARCHY OF SETTLEMENTS: Proper road linkages and up gradation of infrastructure is proposed. The objective is to upgrade the net work of social, physical and civic amenities and integrate the same in hierarchical pattern internally among the settlements and also with the adjoining major urban extension projects /urban areas.

TRANSPORTATION: ROAD IMPROVEMENTS: The Plan recommends inter connection and upgradation of existing road corridors as per most guidelines between the proposed growth centres and growth points for improved circulation system. The hierarchy of road network has been proposed for improved functional linkages.

MAJOR ROAD LINKAGES: Following road stretches have been proposed with road right of way of 45 to 60 mtr, with about 15 mtr. Green buffer, on both sides. a) Najafgarh –Mitraon Dhansa.

ROAD UPGRADATION : Following stretches of the roads are proposed for upgradation to 30 to 36 mtr right of way. a) Najafgarh-Jarodakalan. b) Najafgarh –Kharkhari rond-Ghummenhera. c) Raota- Jhuljhuli-Daryapur Khurd Ujwa-Shamaspur. d) Najafgarh- Dindarpur- Daulatpur - Hasanpur . e) Jaffarpur to chhawla- Najafgarh.

BUS TERMINAL/DEPOT: One bus terminal is proposed near the Najafgarh sub-regional centre. Specific area to be identified in the detailed development plan of Najafgarh. Bus depots area proposed in each growth centres i.e. Dhansa, Jaroda Kalan, Chhawla, Ghummenhera.

MRTS: Proposed MRTS corridor from Moti Nagar is to terminate at Najafgarh. The detailed alignment of the same is yet to be worked out. A Depot near Najafgarh is also proposed for MRTS, i.e. storage of equipments etc. The proposal shall be implemented as and when approved by the competent Authority. The plan proposes a dedicated bus route as an extension of MRTS corridor from Najafgarh to Mitraon. The same could be extended upto Dhansa depending on the traffic volume.

PROPOSED EXPRESSWAY: The proposed expressway of 100 mtr. Right of way with (green buffer of 60 mtr. on either side) is proposed in MPD-2001 connecting the metropolitan terminals of Bijwasan (Dwarka Sub –City) to Holambikalan (Narela Sub City) passing through Neelwal, Hajbat Pur, Khaira, Kharkhari Nahar, Pandwala Kalan, Pandwala Khurd, Kangan Heri villages etc.

RAIL IMPROVEMENTS: A railway line from Delhi Cantt. to Rohtak is existing in the North of the zone . Certain warehousing, storage and industrial use zones, are proposed between the railway line and the existing NH 10. In order to serve these requirements, railways may examine the possibility of developing Tikri kalan as one of the centres for loading / un-loading.

CYCLE TRACKS: While the major movement corridors are proposed in the Zonal Plan, provision of dedicated cycle tracks and improvement of existing road surfaces is proposed to encourage the cyclists for short distance travel. Proper landscaping shall further enhance their functional utility.

Shall cover more features in the next post :) 

Land Pooling Policy for Delhi

Ministry of Urban Development vide Notification dated 05.09.2013 modified the Master Plan 2021 to include the new Land Pooling Policy as Chapter 19 of MPD 2021. The new land policy is based on the concept of Land Pooling wherein the land parcels owned by individuals or group of owners are legally consolidated by transfer of ownership rights to the designated Land Pooling Agency for undertaking of development for such areas. Under the policy transfer of development rights is also allowed. It is expected to yield land to accommodate 10 million people and facilitate 
creation of 1.6 million dwelling units.

A part of land (48-60%) shall be transferred back to the owners (in two different modes). The policy is applicable in the proposed urbanisable areas of the Urban Extensions for which Zonal Plans have been approved.

Guiding Principles
Govt. / DDA to act as a facilitator with minimum intervention to facilitate and speed up integrated planned development. A land owner, or a group of land owners (who have grouped together of their own volition/will for this purpose) or a developer, referred as the "Developer Entity" (DE), shall be permitted to pool land for unified planning, servicing and subdivision / share of the land for development as per prescribed norms and guidelines. Each landowner to get an equitable return irrespective of land uses assigned to their land in the Zonal Development Plan (ZDP) with minimum displacement.

Role of DDA/Government
• DDA shall ensure the speedy development of Master Plan Roads and other essential Physical & Social Infrastructure and Recreational areas.
• It shall ensure inclusive development by adequate provision of EWS and other housing as per Shelter Policy of the Master Plan.
• Declaration of areas under land pooling and preparation of Layout Plans and Sector Plans based on the availability of physical infrastructure
• Superimposition of revenue maps on the approved Zonal plans
• Time bound development of identified land with Master Plan roads, provision of physical infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage and drainage, provision of social infrastructure and traffic and transportation infrastructure including metro corridors
• DDA shall be responsible for external development in a time bound manner
• Acquisition of left out land pockets in a time bound manner shall only be taken up wherever the persons are not coming forward to participate in development through land pooling Role of the Developer Entity (DE)
• Preparation of the layout plans/detailed plans as per the provisions of Master Plan and the policy.
• Demarcation of roads as per Layout Plan and Sector Plan within the assembled area and seek approval of layout plans/ detailed plans from the DDA
• Develop sector roads/internal roads/ infrastructure/services (including water supply lines, power supply, rain water harvesting, STP, WTP etc. falling in its share of the land.
• DE shall be allowed creation of infrastructure facilities, roads, parks etc. at city level subject to approval of Competent Authority
• Return of the prescribed built up space/ Dwelling Units for EWS/LIG Housing component to the DDA as per the policy.
• Timely completion of development and its maintenance with the entire neighborhood level facilities i.e. open spaces, roads and services till the area is handed over to the Municipal Corporation concerned for maintenance.

Land pooling Policy shall also support, for promoting mass housing construction technologies. Improved construction technology and methodologies, which may help, execute housing projects more efficiently and in lesser time. Construction techniques such as prefabricated and modular construction, and innovative construction materials can further help execute projects in lesser time and with reduced resources. More impetus however, would have to be provided to promote the use of these initiatives.

Some suggestions being looked into in this direction are:
• Offer subsidies and waive off import duty on special construction equipments, technologies, and materials.
• Provide incentives such as waive off excise duty, value added tax, etc. on pre-fabricated construction elements.
• Promote active R and D in this for the development and marketing of newer, more effective technologies, materials, etc. domestically The usage of such technology could help in fastening the delivery of housing stock and meeting the housing for all vision.

Rest of the development to be undertaken by the DDA. Land pooling is extensively used globally. It was first adopted by Holland and Germany in and around 1890s. The policy quickly spread across the globe. India has also successfully implemented the land pooling in the past and let us hope that this time too the L- Zone with its land pooling policy shall be a huge success.

Call For New Urbanism

Since we are seeing a rapid growth in Delhi, there is a call for new Urbanism, lot of initiatives has been taken at the government and DDA level and we are seeing the concepts of New Urbanism and smart cities being promoted. It is an urban design movement, which promotes walk to work culture, containing a range of housing and job types.

NEW URBANISM is being promoted for Delhi as an initiative by DDA like L- Zone next to Dwarka, which promotes the creation and restoration of diverse, walk to work, compact, vibrant, mixed-use communities composed of the same components as conventional development, but assembled in a more integrated fashion, in the form of complete communities. These shall contain housing, work places, shops, entertainment, schools, parks, and civic facilities essential to the daily lives of the residents, all within easy walking distance of each other. New Urbanism will promote the increased use of trains and light rail, instead of more highways and roads. Urban living shall become the new hip and modern way to live for people of all ages.

NEW URBANISM is the most important planning movement of this century, and is about creating a better future for us all. It is an international movement to reform the design of the built environment, and is about raising our quality of life and standard of living by creating better places to live. New Urbanism is the revival of our lost art of place making, and is essentially a re-ordering of the built environment into the form of complete cities, towns, and neighborhoods - the way communities have been built for centuries around the world. New Urbanism involves fixing and infilling cities, as well as the creation of compact new towns and cities.

Our New Smart Cities shall have following features:

1. Walkability

- Most things within a 10-minute walk of home and work. - Pedestrian friendly street design (buildings close to street; tree-lined streets; on street parking; hidden parking lots; garages in rear lane; slow speed streets). - Pedestrian streets free of cars in special cases.

2. Connectivity -Interconnected street grid network, which disperses traffic & eases walking -A hierarchy of streets, boulevards, and alleys. -High quality pedestrian network and public realm shall make walking pleasurable

3. Mixed-Use and Diversity -A mix of shops, offices, apartments, and homes on site. Mixed-use within neighborhoods, within blocks, and within buildings. -Diversity of people - of ages, income levels, cultures, and races.

4. Mixed Housing A range of types, sizes and prices in closer proximity

5. Quality Architecture & Urban Design Emphasis on beauty, aesthetics, human comfort, and creating a sense of place; Special placement of civic uses and sites within community. Human scale architecture & beautiful surroundings nourishing the human spirit

6. Increased Density

-More buildings, residences, shops, and services closer together for ease of walking, to enable a more efficient use of services and resources, and to create a more convenient, enjoyable place to live. -New Urbanism design principles to be applied at the full range of densities from small towns, to large cities

7. Smart Transportation -A network of high-quality metro connecting cities, towns, and neighborhoods together -Pedestrian-friendly design that encourages a greater use of bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, and walking as daily transportation

8. Sustainability -Minimal environmental impact of development and its operations -Eco-friendly technologies, respect for ecology and value of natural systems -Energy efficiency -Less use of finite fuels -More local production -More walking, less driving

9. Quality of Life Taken together these add up to a high quality of life well worth living, and create places that enrich, uplift, and inspire the human spirit.

10. BENEFITS TO RESIDENTS

Higher quality of life; Better places to live, work, & play; Higher, more stable property values; Less traffic congestion & less driving; Healthier lifestyle with more walking, and less stress; Close proximity to main street retail & services; Close proximity to bike trails, parks, and nature; Pedestrian friendly communities offer more opportunities to get to know others in the neighborhood and town, resulting in meaningful relationships with more people, and a friendlier town; More freedom and independence to children, elderly, and the poor in being able to get to jobs, recreation, and services without the need for a car or someone to drive them; Great savings to residents and school boards in reduced commuting costs from children being able to walk or bicycle to neighborhood schools; More diversity and smaller, unique shops and services with local owners who are involved in community; Big savings by driving less, and owning less cars; Less ugly, congested sprawl to deal with daily; Better sense of place and community identity with more unique architecture; More open space to enjoy.

11. BENEFITS TO BUSINESSES Increased sales due to more foot traffic & people spending less on cars and gas; More profits due to spending less on advertising and large signs; Better lifestyle by living above shop in live-work units - saves the stressful & costly commute; Economies of scale in marketing due to close proximity and cooperation with other local businesses; Smaller spaces promote small local business incubation; Lower rents due to smaller spaces & smaller parking lots; Healthier lifestyle due to more walking and being near healthier restaurants; More community involvement from being part of community and knowing residents.

Planning for compact growth, rather than letting it sprawl out, has the potential to greatly increase the quality of the environment. It also prevents congestion problems and the environmental degradation normally associated with growth. Looking forward for such Smart City in Delhi.