ABSTRACT
The Covid-19 global pandemic has wreaked havoc and the impacts are still being cognized all over the world. However, the physical and socio-economical impression on the cities will echo for decades. The outbreak of corona cases in densely populated towns; compels to revisit the norms of urban form. The concept of compact urbanization as a sustainable approach is now being questioned. This pandemic has fueled up many debates from a planning perspective and has limited the conventional ways we ran our towns over the past few decades. The urban planning challenges in India include densification, lack of open spaces, urban slums, lack of decentralized approach for the distribution of services and infrastructure, weak institutional arrangements, incompetent local governance, and breach of URDPFI (Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation) guidelines; that has provoked this irrepressible situation. Comprehending the concept of “neighborhood planning” to built self-sustaining communities has now become the need of the hour. These units not only have all the essential services and basic necessities at a walk-able distance but can also act as containment units when required. The severe challenges prompted by poor designing & planning of the built environment have raised a threat to public health & safety. With the “engines of economic growth” coming to a halt; the architects, urban planners & policymakers are given the opportunity to contemplate and reassess the infrastructure priorities, vulnerabilities of towns, governance, and urban policies. The pandemic is manifesting the significance of a built environment that is not only aesthetically pleasing, livable, built for all economic classes but also promotes the sense of healthy living. The paper aims at analyzing the conventional urban planning practices in India to highlight the paramount challenges in light of COVID-19. The research further focuses on ameliorating the concerns of high density, informal sector, and the indispensable role of urban local bodies using various Indian case studies. The concluding section proposes a resilient and inclusive approach in planning, management, and governance for a post-pandemic India and also appreciates the significance of neighborhood planning as a module for the future. At last, the transformative actions of urban professionals and policymakers can indeed shape the communities to mitigate the pervasive nature of such disease.
