Evaluating existing residential areas in context of Livability

Abstract

Large scale spatial urbanization is taking place in India. Over the years, population of India is moving towards urban centers in search of education, employment, and better livelihood opportunities. Share of urban population has increased substantially in India during the last decade as it increased from 31.28 percent in 2011 to 34.93 percent by 2020 (Source: The World Bank). Many urban cities including Delhi are facing tremendous pressure on its existing infrastructure due to the influx of migrants from rural areas.

In this context, role of Smart City becomes pertinent due to shrinking urban land space and to provide modern amenities to the increasing urban population. Government of India has planned to set up 100 smart cities across India in 2015 covering 21 percent of India’s Urban Population. In this study, an effort was made to analyze connectivity to city-level amenities and locational attributes, proximity and quality of local-level public amenities, the quality and availability of infrastructure, socio-economic aspects including safety and security, housing, and environmental and visual characteristics of the landscape. A community's livability is influenced by a variety of factors, including its physical and natural environments, its economy, its social cohesion and fairness, its educational possibilities, and its cultural and recreational offerings.

A comparison of the resident’s livability standards with respect to available product quality (relating to service infrastructure such as water, electricity, connectivity, proximity to markets, recreation, and physical exercise, etc.) in the past and the present has been analyzed. Case studies of the best practices available across the world also has been analyzed to understand the quality of life and livability of the people in other cities.