Better city, better life

In my early childhood, I lived in a laidback village off Ambalangoda, where there were plenty of open spaces to play with my friends. The air was crisp and inviting, the pace of life rather relaxed and there was an all-pervading sense of camaraderie. But when I came to Colombo for the first time to attend school, it was a rather shocking experience. The tall buildings, the incessant traffic, the unbearable cacophony of sounds and the crowds amazed me. Colombo has changed immensely in the four decades since I first saw it, but those core features are what makes a city tick even today. Over the years, I have become a city dweller, but somewhere in my heart there is a soft spot for the village, where life has not changed all that much.

Today, most people tend to live in cities, but there are plenty of others who live in the villages and come to cities for work daily. Cities drive the economy in most countries. They have almost become a living, breathing entity with a mass of humanity ensconced within. Urbanisation has become a blessing - and a curse - for many countries, because there are both advantages and disadvantages to the expansion of cities.

Diversity

Yesterday, the world celebrated the World Cities Day which recognises the significance of urban areas as a foundation for overall social and economic development. As the UN points out, planned urbanization maximizes the capacity of cities to generate employment and wealth, and to foster diversity and social cohesion between different classes, cultures, ethnicities and religions. The theme for 2015 is 'Better City, Better Life - Designed to live together'. Cities designed to live together create opportunities, enable connection and interaction, and facilitate sustainable use of shared resources. The theme of 2015 World Cities Day promotes togetherness and harmony, making our cities and neighbourhoods inclusive and livable.

One of the biggest problems associated with most cities is unplanned expansion. Only a few cities such as Brasilia in Brazil and New Delhi in India have been planned from the start and purpose built. Rapid urbanization is one of the defining challenges of contemporary societies. For cities to realize the full potential of cities and avoid the pitfalls of population and economic growth, good urban planning is critical. In many countries including Sri Lanka, unplanned city extensions and decades of car-centric urban design have created sprawling city-regions.

Congestion

2015 World Cities Day promotes togetherness and harmony. Pic. chinadaily.com.cn

As these unplanned areas offer few work opportunities, people and goods have been forced to travel long distances to employment opportunities, leading to congestion, pollution and a generally reduced quality of life.

A lack of planning has also led to slum formation, inequality and segregated communities in many contexts, exacerbating inequality and injustice and even triggering turmoil and revolt on some occasions. Over 61% of dwellers in Sub-Saharan Africa, 24% in Latin America and 30% in Asia occupy land informally. The lack of adequate street networks and limited and dwindling public space in cities compound further urban inefficiencies and inequalities. The key to a better city is proper planning, better urban design and adequate allowances for public space.

Colombo and Kandy are two examples for cities that are bursting at the seams, not only in terms of traffic congestion/road blockage but also in terms of energy consumption, garbage disposal, sewerage network and living space. Colombo, with a migrant population of one million in the daytime, faces a myriad of problems which have not been addressed for a long time. For example, it is now very difficult to widen many roads in Colombo without demolishing existing buildings on both sides of the road, but this is simply not possible from a political, financial and social perspective. It is far better to find alternatives to fight congestion, such as building a better public transport system that does not necessarily call for the expansion of the road network, such as a railway line.

Most people will be tempted to leave their fuel-guzzling cars at home if there was an electric railway line, for instance. Such a line has in fact been proposed from Battaramulla to Colombo. The city can have priority bus lanes, bus/rail rapid transit system, monorail, underground system, or surface trains as solutions.

Vicinity

In fact, these are among the many plans drawn up for Colombo and the immediate vicinity through the new Government's Megapolis proposal, which is likely to be extended to other key cities in the island such as Galle, Kandy and Trincomalee in the near future. Backed by Singaporean expertise and insight, this is one of the most constructive proposals that we have seen for a long time and all right thinking citizens should rally round this cause. While the previous Government did have a programme primarily aimed at restoring a few old iconic buildings and creating recreational areas, that is simply not enough for a serious urban renewal effort. The people, not the structures, should be at the centre of city planning and rejuvenation with the Western Province Megapolis projected to have a large population of eight million by 2030.

The Western Province accounts for nearly half of the nation's economy, with the other eight provinces accounting for the rest and Colombo City is the key drive of the Province. The Megapolis proposal envisages building a regional business and financial hub, complete with high-rise developments, recreational areas, renewable energy generation, transport networks and shopping districts which will put people at the heart of the action. Reducing pollution and waste will also be among the objectives.

This will be in addition to projects such as Shangri La and Colombo City Centre which are already underway. Cluster cities in the Western Province such as Horana too will be developed under these plans so that there will be no need to come to Colombo City for most errands.

The Megapolis plan also fits in perfectly with the UN's theme of "Better City, Better Life" since the latter is really the main aim of this urban renewal programme.