PUBLIC SPACES IN URBAN INDIA

Abstract

Cities in history have always been remembered for their public spaces, be it the Roman Forum, the Greek Agora or the ‘Ghats’ of Banaras. Identity and experience of any city are formed by the public spaces within it; in Indian context, the same is evident in the traditional markets of Jaipur, in famous food streets of Indore or in the cultural spectacle of ‘Ganesh Visarjan’ on streets of Mumbai. Public spaces – open areas that are accessible to all – play a vital role in everyday urban life. But apart from a few grand venues, the state of contemporary public spaces in Indian cities has been inadequate and substandard on a local level, which, in turn, has undermined the everyday public experience both for its inhabitants and visitors. We have come to recognise most Indian megacities as a cacophony of loud, unorganised traffic, overrun with out-of-context structures and very few quality public spaces. Every country, or even city, is unique in its urban texture owing to factors like climate, population and economic resources. Yet, a lot can be learned from design solutions that are successful in urban public spaces of other countries. There is an acute need of urban design solutions in India that are a product of in-depth study of local needs and successful global interventions. This paper is an attempt at analysing the major issues affecting the quality of public spaces in urban India through relevant comparison with worldwide metropolitans.