MEDS-041

Introduction to Urban
Development
Indira Gandhi National Open University
School of Extension and Development Studies

Urban Development: Concept and Dynamics 1

 MEDS-041
Introduction to Urban
Development
Indira Gandhi National Open University
School of Extension and Development Studies

Block

1
URBAN DEVELOPMENT: CONCEPT AND DYNAMICS
UNIT 1
Urbanization: An Overview 5
UNIT 2
Theories of Urban Development 24
UNIT 3
Evolution of Urban Development: Global Overview 41
UNIT 4
Urban Development Experience in India 53
PROGRAMME DESIGN COMMITTEE
Dr. P.K. Mohanty Prof. K. V. K. Rao
Additional Secretary, Ministry of Urban Affairs Dean, Infrastructure Planning Support
New Delhi IIT, Mumbai
Prof. O.P. Mathur Prof. V. Jaganatha
National Institute of Urban Affairs State Institute of Urban Development, Mysore
New Delhi
Prof. P.P. Balan
Prof. Chetan Vaidya Kerala Institute of Local Administration
National Institute of Urban Affairs Thrissur.
New Delhi
Prof. Amita Bhide
Prof. Sanyukta Bhaduri Tata Institute of Social Science, Mumbai.
School of Planning and Architecture
New Delhi. Prof. Usha Raghupati
National Institute of Urban Affairs
Prof. S. Janakrajan New Delhi
Madras Institute of Development Studies
Chennai. Mr. Ajit P. Khatri
Architects & Town Planners Association of India,
Prof. M. P. Mathur Mumbai
National Institute of Urban Affairs
New Delhi. Prof. Pravin Sinclair, PVC, IGNOU, New Delhi

Prof. K.K. Pandey Prof. E. Vayunandan, IGNOU, New Delhi

Indian Institute of Public Administration
New Delhi.
Prof. Bijoyini Mohanty
Utkal University, Bhubneshwar
Prof. B. K. Pattanaik, IGNOU, New Delhi
Dr. Nehal A. Farooquee, IGNOU, New Delhi.
Dr. P.V. K. Sasidhar, IGNOU, New Delhi

COURSE PREPARATION TEAM

Unit Writers Editing
Prof. B.K. Pattanaik (Unit 1) Prof. O.P. Mathur (Content Editor)
IGNOU, New Delhi National Institute of Urban Affairs
Mr. Praveer Shukla (Language Editor)
Prof. S. Bhaduri (Unit 2)
New Delhi
SPA, New Delhi
Prof. B. K. Pattanaik, IGNOU, New Delhi
Prof. Amita Bhidae (Unit 3 & 4)
Dr. Nehal A. Farooquee, IGNOU, New Delhi
TISS, Mumbai
Dr. P.V. K. Sasidhar, IGNOU, New Delhi
Dr. Grace Don Nemching, IGNOU, New Delhi

Programme Coordinators : Dr. Nehal A. Farooquee, Prof. B.K. Pattanaik, Dr. P.V.K. Sasidhar
Course Coordinator: Dr. Nehal A. Farooquee, E-mail:nafarooquee@ignou.ac.in
PRODUCTION TEAM
Mr. Jitender Sethi Mr. Babu Lal Rewadia
Asst. Registrar (Publication) Section Officer (Publication)
MPDD, IGNOU, New Delhi MPDD, IGNOU, New Delhi

June, 2013
© Indira Gandhi National Open University, 2013
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MEDS-041 INTRODUCTION TO URBAN
DEVELOPMENT
Dear Learner,
Welcome to the Course MEDS – 041 on “Introduction to Urban Development”.
As you all are aware that urbanization in India is quite astounding. Roughly, 30
percent of India’s population lives in cities, but this number (30 crores) is already
the second largest urban system in the world. It is expected that by 2025, half of
the population will be urbane. The excessive urbanization has created manifold
problems such as the haphazard growth of unauthorized housing colonies, slums
and squatter settlements. Urban poverty and unemployment are serious problems.
One of the estimation shows that at least 33 percent of the Indian urban population
lives in slums. Thus, urbanization will be a problem before the urban planners
and policy makers in the years to come. The criticality of the urban problems has
not been properly understood due to less emphasis on urban development issues
in the academic curriculum at the graduation and post-graduation levels.
Therefore, it is pertinent to study about the various parameters and components
of urban planning and development. It will also enable you to share your
perspectives on urban planning and development in various forums. The main
aim of this course is to make you aware about the introductory issues in urban
planning and development. The course is divided into following four blocks.

The Block 1 deals with the basics of urban development: concepts, dynamics
process of urbanization, and then it discusses about the various theories of urban
development. It also gives the global overview of evolution of urban development,
and finally it gives the urban development experiences in India.

The Block 2 deals with urban planning issues and it start with an overview of
urban planning, and it moves on to various techniques of urban planning. It later
discusses urban land use planning issues and finally it concludes with planning
for city regions.

The Block 3 describes the urban governance and local organizations; it explains
the role of urban statutory and institutional framework in urban governance.
Finally, it discusses the role and importance of urban e-governance.

The Block 4 deals with emerging issues in participatory development, wherein

the peoples participation, citizenship and enablement have been discussed at
length. It deals with participatory tools and methods and it concludes with public
private partnership for urban development.
Urban Development:
Concept and Dynamics BLOCK 1 URBAN DEVELOPMENT:
CONCEPT AND DYNAMICS

There is a growing concern and interest on understanding the urban development,

its concept and various dynamics. Urbanization is a process by which a people,
instead of living in predominantly dispersed agricultural villages, start living in
towns and cities dominated by industrial and service functionaries. It involves
multiplication of urban places and/ or an increase in size of cities. Growth of
urban population is only one of dimensions of urbanization. Hence, there is a
need to address the issues related to urbanization in general and urban
development in particular. This particular block on Urban Development: Concept
and Dynamics will give a holistic understanding about the various dynamics and
concepts of urban development.

Unit 1, Urbanization: An Overview, discusses that urbanization without proper

planning has given rise to several problems such as housing, sanitation, education,
provision of safe drinking water, unemployment, etc. particularly in
underdeveloped countries. This unit provides information and knowledge
regarding urbanization, its trends, impact and description about sustainable urban
development.

Unit 2, Theories of Urban Development, deals with the different theories

pertaining to planning and development of urban areas.

Unit 3, Evolution of Urban Development: Global overview, describes the

current scenario of urbanization in the world and how globalization creates links
between different cities of the world. All of these factors together create distinct
challenges for policy makers and planners. An appreciation of this history and
current status is necessary for developing a perspective on realities of Indian
urbanization.

Unit 4, Urban Development Experience in India, demonstrates the urban

development experience in India, and how it is grappling with severe shortcomings.
Some of the examples show the best social services facilities in some cities
(including world class education and health facilities). It also demonstrates how
few cities are also host to a great many social ills – chronic poverty, poor sanitation,
crime, environmental pollution and social unrest.