Operational and development complexities of cities call for new state of art agenda to be defined for planning, development and management of cities in this era of globalisation and liberlisation of economies. Looking at the enormous population growth and large count of people marching and opting for cities, growth and development of urban areas is emerging as the major issue. Cities known for positivity and negativity can be major source of disasters- both physical, social and environmental. Cities will and are likely to pose major threat to global sustainability. For making planet earth more sustainable and livable ,planning , development and governance of the cities have to be redefined both by professionals, communities, people and parastatal agencies. Planning for sustainable cities must include and involve poor and meeting the basic human needs of living of the poorest of the poor. City planning, development, governance and mobility needs new definition.

1. Policies and Planning for Making Cities Sustainable; Cites and
Civilizations are known to be promoters, sustainers and drivers of human
growth and development. Rapid climate change , rising temperature, global
warming, increasing carbon footprints and prevailing pollution, have placed
humanity , communities and cities in a space, which poses greatest threat
and challenge to mankind. Overcoming the prevailing crisis facing
humanity, calls for making human settlements and built environment more
livable, sustainable and qualitative, Globally, human settlements are known
for their positivity and negativities. Cities are known to be promoters of
economy, prosperity, employment, infrastructure etc. But cities also
showcase pronounced adversities , involving consumption of energy and
resources besides generations of colossal waste. Problems related to
global warming and climate change can be attributed to the manner, cities
and buildings are being planned, designed, constructed, operated, governed
and managed. Looking at the entire context of Urban development prevailing
in India, approach should focus on;-- Defining, dissecting and understanding
role, importance and relevance of cities in the context of globalization and
liberalization of economies; Issues related to Physical, Social, Environmental
dimensions emerging out of the rapid and unplanned growth and
development of urban settlements; In addition, focus of rationalizing cities
should include various policies/ planning options which can be leveraged to
make cities sustainable and livable besides making them carbon neutral .
The options defined and strategies would include and involve;
 Understanding fabric, structure, strength and weaknesses of the city

2.  Understanding role and relevance of SDG in making cities carbon
neutral
 Redefining approach to physical planning with preference going for
Regional Planning ;
 Planning for Compact , Sustainable and Smart Cities;
 Planning and Designing Carbon Neutral Buildings
 Making Nature integral part of the Urban planning/Built environment;
 Rationalizing Mobility- Planning for people rather than vehicles ;
 Cooling Cities- Increasing Green spaces
 Leveraging State of Art Technologies- in planning, development,
management of cities/ delivery of services.
 Promoting Good Urban Governance
 Avoiding multiplicity of planning and development agencies.
 Creating a single unified authority equipped with appropriate
resources; manpower, financial, technical and technical.
 Creating an appropriate legal framework for planning, development
and governance.
 Making cities inclusive and people centric
 Involving communities
 Preserving valuable heritage
 Ensuring efficient, effective, qualitative and quantitative delivery to all
residents
 Providing for basics-universal education, healthcare, housing ,
employment, food and quality of life.
* Ar. Jit Kumar Gupta
Founder Director; College of Architecture, I.E.T, Bhaddal

3. #344, Sector 40-A; Chandigarh- 160036
Email; jit.kumar1944@gmail.com