Urban populations are scheduled to increase by an additional 2.5 billion people by 2050, as per the United Nations. In India currently nearly 50 crore or 35% of the population are urban. By 2050 the population of India is projected to be about 167 crores, adding up to about additional 33.5 crore people that would need to be accommodated in cities. As urbanization is growing around the world, new cities are being planned and built across the globe.

Cities first appeared in fertile areas near rivers. Around 7500 BC Eridu, Uruk and Ur appeared between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Mesopotamia. Cities were also established near the Nile, Indus and Yellow Rivers in Egypt, the Indian subcontinent and China. The Industrial revolution led to a great increase in urbanization, which has never slowed down.

Cities are often criticized for the crowds, their impact on environment and the living conditions of the people on the margins. However, cities are also one of the crowning inventions of humanity. Cities since ancient times have been hubs of trade, education, culture, employment, money and talent. As cities expand, economic entities move closer, and people move closer to their jobs. A growing city pushes overall economic growth. More than 80% of global GDP is generated in cities. As per reports, doubling a city’s population boosts productivity by nearly 2-5%. But cities also reach a saturation point, and it makes sense to build new or expand existing cities.

Around the world, governments and private investors are building new cities. A group of Silicon Valley investors are building a city near San Francisco, currently called California Forever. The push for this city came due to a shortage of housing on the West coast. It is being planned such that residents can reach their place of work or school without a car, a ‘15-minute city’’ The city is planned for homes, jobs and clean energy. Bill Gates is also planning a metropolis named Belmont in Arizona as a smart city. Residents here will be directed away from traffic and advised on the most environmentally friendly time to shower, through sensors! Many other cities are proposed by billionaires and private investors which would experiment with ideas such as communal ownership of land, and crypto currency accepting economic zone.

From Egypt to Nairobi and Saudi Arabia to Bhutan, new cities are being planned and built. Some are being built to reduce pressure on capitals, others as integrated habitations with industry and nature, while others are being planned as ‘mindfulness cities’ in the shape of a Buddhist Mandala. In India too, in line with the recommendations of the 15^th finance commission, proposals for eight new cities are under consideration. This is apart from the hundred Smart City projects that are underway in various states.

New cities need to get their basics right in terms of roads, sewerage and public spaces. Most of the ones being planned focus on green and environmentally friendly living. Integrating with nature, being climate conscious and investing in new ideas are the USPs of all these planned cities. Many may not succeed, but some may. The plan of building new cities with new ideas and thoughts that try to address some of the problems that have crept in our current urban areas is welcome.

By 2050, two out of every three people are likely to be living in cities. Given that urbanization of the world’s population is a growing trend, investing in new ideas for new cities is important and an imperative.

Published in the Dainik Bhaskar on 19-3-2024