Who Shapes Our Cities?

Cities are not just collections of buildings, infrastructure and markets. They are living expressions of the values, aspirations and everyday choices of the diverse people who inhabit them, both now and across generations. They also look and feel different, depending on where you experience them from. 

At the neighbourhood level, for instance, the safety of children playing in open spaces, the ease with which the elderly navigate the streets, the warmth with which neighbours welcome visitors, and the relationship between civic authorities and residents all reveal the quality of life in a city. They also reveal something equally important about us, because ultimately it is people who make—and maintain—their cities, or fail to do so. Arguably, we get the cities we deserve.

Cities rarely evolve by accident. A city with inclusive public spaces, organized roads, vibrant neighbourhoods and a strong sense of civic pride is usually the product of a society that values collective well-being and consciously nurtures the civic compact. Conversely, a city struggling with chaotic public spaces, traffic congestion, encroachment, pollution and public indifference is not simply the result of poor planning or administrative failure. More often than not, it reflects a dysfunctional society and a conflicted polity. Building better cities therefore begins with recognizing that urban transformation is as much a social endeavour as it is an institutional one.

That said, we must also acknowledge that a relatively small number of individuals and institutions wield disproportionate influence over the way cities develop. State officials, city planners, elected representatives, infrastructure agencies, real estate developers and property speculators all shape our urban landscape in significant ways. Ordinary citizens, by contrast, have fewer opportunities to influence public decision-making. Yet every institution that seeks to shape a city ultimately derives its legitimacy from the people it claims to serve. That gives citizens an important—though often underestimated—opportunity to influence the future direction of their cities.

History shows that when genuine needs are voiced persistently and collectively, democratic societies often respond. Around the world, many successful urban transformations have occurred not simply because planners proposed better designs, but because citizens demanded better living conditions and voted accordingly.

It is also important to remember that India is currently undergoing an unprecedented urban transition. While the country’s largest cities make this transformation visible through expanding boundaries, new expressways, metro systems, rebuilt and newly constructed airports, and rapidly changing skylines, smaller towns and peri-urban settlements are quietly evolving in ways that often go unnoticed. It is here that a deeper social transformation, driven by in-situ urbanization, is taking place.

Improved connectivity, digital networks and expanding economic opportunities have blurred—if not largely erased—the traditional divide between urban and rural India. Villages, especially those near larger cities, now enjoy better access to education, healthcare and markets. From this perspective, India’s smaller and mofussil towns are emerging as vibrant centres of enterprise, services and innovation.

Because these places are still taking shape, they present an extraordinary opportunity for thoughtful urban development. Unlike larger cities that are now grappling with decades of planning shortcomings, these settlements can build better from the outset. Simple decisions can have lasting consequences. Streets should become pedestrian-friendly before traffic overwhelms them. Water bodies should be protected before they disappear. Public spaces should be thoughtfully designed before land becomes prohibitively scarce. Mixed neighbourhoods should be preserved before real-estate-driven development creates social silos.

Viewed this way, India’s urbanization is about far more than physical infrastructure. It is about deciding how we want to live together in close proximity. Around the world, there are many examples of how timely and thoughtful planning creates cities that people genuinely cherish. From Copenhagen’s commitment to putting people first to Chandigarh’s long-term vision for systematic and inclusive urban development, these examples remind us that cities thrive when they are designed around human experience, not merely physical expansion.

There is ample empirical evidence to show that cities influence our physical health, mental well-being, creativity, productivity and social relationships in ways we often overlook because they quietly shape the rhythm of our everyday lives.

Which brings us to the question we must all ask ourselves: Are we prepared to take responsibility for creating the cities we believe we deserve?

The answer is straightforward. The rapid urban transformation unfolding across India presents an extraordinary opportunity to shape cities and towns that reflect the aspirations of their people. But seizing that opportunity requires a shared sense of responsibility. It calls for thoughtful planning, responsive institutions and, equally importantly, citizens who are willing to participate actively in shaping the places they wish to inhabit. If we embrace that shared responsibility, there is every reason to believe that India can build cities that not only support growth but also reflect the values, dignity and quality of life we collectively aspire to.

About the author: Dr. Sanjeev Vidyarthi is the Provost of Anant National University, an architect, urban designer and author. His research explores how Indian cities are planned, governed and transformed through design and public policy.