Urban planning and development

The process of Indian urbanisation is passing through a crucial stage. Impending economic diversification is set to push surplus labour to urban based sectors of economy. Level of urbanisation is also expected to accelerate which so far has remained rather at a low level. Our efforts of urban development are nowhere near the required thrust. Unfortunately urban development has not
been recognised as coterminus of economic development, even though every economic programme has physical dimensions. Urban planning and development has rather remained neglected and secluded. Situation in fact demands the contrary. Physical and economic development needs to be integrated. The process of neglect has resulted into many problems like growing of urban settlements out of shape, shortage of houses, emergence of slums and squatters, soaring land prices and crises of energy and environment etc. Institutional base for urban development has also not risen to expectations, though conceptually the subject of settlement planning is well nourished. The present volume strives to focus on various issues of urban planning and develop-
ment and attempts to identify the imperatives to build up the sectors. A student of planning in particular would find the text more useful.