By: Pranay Vakil, Chairman, Praron Consultancy
Track2Realty Exclusive: An affordable housing project should be located within reasonable distances from workplaces and should be connected adequately through public transport.
If housing is developed far away from the major work place hubs in a city it will entail to other major expenses of transportation. Even as price of the residential units might be low due to lower land costs, the housing & transportation affordability will be greatly affected.
I feel there is lack in choice for modes of transport to commute within the city adding to the congestion. We should exploit other modern means of transport like water transport, trans-harbor link, jetties, sea links, coastal development etc for commuting which will cut down the cost and congestion.
Even roadways need to be revamped and make manageable for smooth ply. Tram, metro and monorail are the new means for roadways transport to be planned well for its success.
Bad roads usually lead to delays and traffic congestion thereby increasing pollution in the environment. All this have indirect health hazards. Greater and modern perspective is required with strong will to explore and execute new ways of transport.
For example, there was issue of starting jetties as travelling means from dockyard on the causes and concerns of fishermen. But this issue could have been tactfully handled and overcome with better alternative of rehabilitating small group of fishermen rather than hampering thousands of daily commuters. As rightly said “Greatest steps for good for greatest number” theory should be executed. We need to take huge leap and corrective steps to overcome hurdles on the growth pathway.
India has a young and rapidly growing population—a potential demographic asset. But India needs thriving economic cities if that asset has to give out the yield.
New MGI research estimates that cities could generate 70 percent of net new jobs created till 2030, produce around 70 percent of Indian GDP, and drive a near fourfold increase in per capita incomes across the nation.
If handled well, India can surely reap the significant benefits of urbanization. Surging growth and employment in cities will be a powerful magnet.
…..to be continued
