उपराज्यपाल, दिल्ली

• Executive Director, National Economic Forum,  Shri Jagdip Rana Ji,

• Chairperson, SPA, Prof. Habeeb Khan Ji,

• President, ITPI, Shri Pradeep Kapoor Ji,

• Distinguished town planners, experts, delegates, and my dear friends

Urban planning, is fundamentally about improving, the way people live. The quality of a city, is reflected not merely, in its infrastructure, or physical expansion, but in the ease, with which its residents, can access, housing, travel, to work, use, public spaces, and obtain, essential services.

As Indian cities, continue to grow, the responsibility of planning, for these needs becomes, increasingly important.

Our Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, has observed— “Urban planning will determine, the fate of our cities, in Amrit Kaal, and it is only well-planned cities, that will determine, the fate of India.” This is a significant reminder, that the decisions taken, by planners today, will shape the economic opportunities, environmental conditions, and quality of life available, to future generations.

World Habitat Day, World Cities Day, and World Town Planning Day, provide an opportunity to reflect, on this responsibility. While each observance, has its own emphasis, all three underline, the importance of creating settlements, that are inclusive, sustainable, and responsive, to the needs of their residents. 

Housing, mobility, environmental protection, and access to public amenities, must therefore be, considered together, rather than, as separate concerns.

India’s urban transformation, presents both opportunities, and challenges. Cities are, centres of economic activity, education, innovation, and employment. They attract, people seeking better opportunities, and bring together, talent, enterprise, and ideas. 

However, rapid urbanization, also places pressure, on land, housing, transport, water resources, and public infrastructure. The task of urban planning, is to manage this growth, in a manner, that supports development, while protecting the interests, of communities, and future generations.

Delhi illustrates, these challenges, clearly. It is a national capital, with a rich historical legacy, a major centre of economic activity, and a home to people, from across the country. Its historic neighbourhoods, markets, monuments, and cultural institutions, coexist with modern infrastructure, and expanding, urban settlements. 

Preserving this character, while responding to the needs, of a growing metropolitan population, requires careful planning, and effective coordination.

Delhi must also be viewed, within the wider National Capital Region. Housing, employment, transport, water management, and environmental concerns, extend beyond, administrative boundaries. 

Coordination among, the relevant agencies, and neighbouring jurisdictions, is essential, to address these, interconnected issues. Land-use planning, must be aligned, with transport infrastructure, and development decisions, must account for their wider, metropolitan impact.

Three areas merit, particular attention, as Indian cities, continue to grow— urban water management, mobility, and affordable housing. Each is closely connected, to the quality, of urban life, and each calls, for a long-term, integrated approach, to planning, and development.

Urban water management, is an important part, of building resilient cities. As rainfall patterns evolve, and urban areas expand, planning must increasingly, bring together, drainage infrastructure, rainwater harvesting, the conservation of water bodies, and the responsible, use of land. Delhi, like other major cities, is continually working towards, strengthening its urban infrastructure, and improving its capacity, to respond to changing, environmental conditions. The task before planners is, to support these efforts, through sound land-use planning, the protection, of natural drainage systems, and the integration, of climate resilience, into new developments. 

Water-sensitive urban design, can also help cities, conserve, resources, improve, public spaces, and make more effective, use of rainfall. The objective must be, to ensure, that infrastructure planning, anticipates future needs, and contributes, to the long-term sustainability, of our cities.

Mobility, is another essential dimension, of urban development. A well-connected city, expands access, to employment, education, healthcare, and other opportunities. This requires coordinated planning, across public transport, road networks, pedestrian pathways, cycling infrastructure, and parking facilities. 

Delhi’s extensive, public transport network, and continuing efforts, to improve urban connectivity, provide an important foundation, for further progress. The focus must remain, on making everyday journeys, safer, more convenient, and more efficient. Planning residential areas, alongside workplaces, and essential services, can also reduce, unnecessary travel, and improve the overall experience, of living in a city. 

Equally important, is ensuring that streets, and transport facilities, respond to the needs, of women, children, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities. Mobility must ultimately, be measured, not only, by how quickly, people travel, but also, by how easily, and safely, they can reach the opportunities, that matter to them.

Affordable housing, is fundamental, to making urban growth, inclusive. Cities depend, on the contribution of people, across occupations, and income groups, and their development, must create opportunities, for all to live, with dignity. 

Housing planning, therefore needs to be connected, with access to employment, transport, schools, healthcare, and other essential services. The quality, location and connectivity, of housing, are as important as, the number of homes created. Through thoughtful planning, and coordination, between public institutions, professional bodies, and other stakeholders, cities can work, towards neighbourhoods, that are well-serviced, accessible, and socially integrated. 

The larger goal is, to ensure that urban development, strengthens both, economic opportunity, and the well-being of residents.

These priorities, bring us back to, a central principle, that people must remain, at the heart of urban planning. 

When safety, accessibility, convenience, and environmental responsibility, are built into the process, urban infrastructure, becomes more responsive, to the people it serves.

To my young friends— You are entering, the planning profession, at a time of considerable opportunity. Climate change, technological advances, demographic shifts, and evolving economic activity, are transforming the way, cities function. Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, digital mapping, and urban analytics, offer valuable tools, to understand these changes, and support, evidence-based decisions. 

Yet technology, must always be guided, by professional judgement, local knowledge, and a clear understanding, of public needs.

I encourage you to study, cities not only through maps, models, and data, but also through, direct observation, and engagement, with the people, who live and work, in them. 

Professional integrity, is equally important. Decisions concerning land, housing, and infrastructure, shape communities for generations. They must be guided, by evidence, fairness, transparency, and the public interest. 

The Institute of Town Planners, India, has played an important role, in advancing, the planning profession. Its engagement, with the School of Planning and Architecture, the Centre for Science and Environment, and other knowledge partners, creates a valuable platform, for bringing research, professional experience, and practical perspectives, together. 

I hope this seminar, will encourage young planners, to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and develop approaches, that respond to the evolving needs, of Indian cities.

I extend my best wishes, to the Institute of Town Planners, India, its collaborating institutions, and all participants. I hope today’s discussions, lead to practical ideas, meaningful exchanges, and stronger professional collaboration, in support of better-planned cities, across Delhi and India.

Thank You. 

Jai Hind.