5S model of urban development

Congestion, multiple interactions among strangers, short streets, and mixed land uses characterise Indian cities. Retrofitting the existing hard-wired micro-infrastructure (neighbourhoods) to achieve outcomes valued by citizens is a smart way to revitalise neighbourhoods and cities. Ordinarily, urban residents value outcomes represented by the five Ss (5S model) ��� Safai, Sahet, Sadak, Suraksha, and Sahabhagi. Besides the commonly understood meanings of these terms I use the 5S depiction as an overarching framework to design urban policies and practices based on contemporary notions prevailing in urban planning.

Sahet ��� implies ���active living���, which is a way of living that integrates physical activity into the daily routine. This can be done in several ways ��� walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise or pleasure, playing in the park, taking the stairs, and using recreational facilities. Research sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has shown that physical activity is more than just a matter of choice, it is also affected by the built environment. The design of our cities ��� including the layout of neighbourhoods and cities and the availability and proximity of transport systems and parks ��� has the potential to promote or inhibit residents��� ability to be physically active. A recent review of studies by Britain���s National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) concluded that physical activity levels increase when trails, traffic-calming cycling infrastructure, road restrictions, and charging for road use are introduced. Maryland���s Smart Growth Initiative is a practical example, in which changes in zoning, development regulations and transport investments have led to more walkable communities.

Sadak ��� alludes to various aspects of the built environment, such as transit-oriented development (TOD) and adopting leadership in energy and environment design (LEED) practices. TOD is a development pattern around transit stops. Common strategies used in TOD are to create mixed use development around transit stops, so that offices and shops are within walking distance of commuters. Besides reducing auto dependency, TOD also develops social relationships, increases availability of affordable housing, promotes efficient use of land, and overall improves the quality of life for citizens.

Sustainable patterns of development are promoted by LEED certification. LEED is a green certification available for buildings, neighbourhoods (LEED-ND), and potentially for regions. LEED-ND aims to reduce auto dependency, promote efficient land use, and develop pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods by using points-based credit system in which points are given for location and resource efficiency, environment preservation, and compact neighbourhoods. One way to encourage green building designs is to give faster building permissions through a separate fast track, as in Santa Barbara, California.

Suraksha ��� means trying to establish a ���just city��� as conceived by Susan Fainstein. There is compelling evidence that the marginalised disproportionately bear environmental costs of economic development; therefore, a before-event examination of urban project and programme impacts is informative to ensure that the disadvantaged do not bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences of economic development. This has led to the Environmental Justice movement, which has adopted 17 principles including the ���right��� of all individuals to be protected from environmental degradation, the elimination of the threat before harm occurs as the preferred strategy, and shifting the burden of proof to polluters/dischargers who do harm. Cincinnati City, USA, is one of the pioneers in preparing an Environmental Justice Ordinance.

Safai ��� refers to awareness about the environment. One example is recycling of municipal wastes. Presently, we are only moving waste from one location to another. Landfills damage the environment by river and ground water contamination, soil poisoning and air pollution. Municipal policies and practices should be designed to tackle waste from source to disposal by attending to the three dimensions of solid waste management ��� reduce, reuse, and recycle. In the State of Ohio, USA a Division of Litter Prevention and Recycling exists. The division is required to administer grants and to establish and implement comprehensive state-wide litter prevention and recycling programme by educating the public, giving technical assistance, identifying existing and potential markets for recycled materials, determining barriers to their use, and encouraging state agencies to purchase products made from recycled materials.

Sahabhagi ��� is adapted from the Times Foundation Initiative. The conceptual foundation is provided by Habermas���s critical communications theory of social action to guide progress towards a more democratic decision-making. The key point is to understand and respect the community���s way of making decisions often described by practitioners as a ���total respect for the process.��� The PlaNYC announced by Mayor Bloomberg on Earth Day 2007, to create a greater and greener New York is an instance of ���real��� participation of ���publics��� in the planning process. During the four months of intensive consultations to prepare the Plan, 100 Advocacy Organisations were consulted, 11 neighbourhood-level meetings were conducted, and presentations were made to 50 organisations to explicate the challenges facing New York���s five boroughs.

The focus of urban development in India has remained on macro aspects of cities, such as preparation of Master Plans (physical planning), provision of city level infrastructure (e.g., water supply, sewage disposal), and establishing metropolitan and regional authorities. Admittedly, these are required because neighbourhoods are nested within cities and regions; however, the neglect of neighbourhood-level planning has to be addressed, also. To create green cities, growing cities and just cities, planning efforts have to converge on neighbourhoods and one way is prepare comprehensive neighbourhood plans based on the 5S model with ���real��� citizen involvement.

(Author is an IAS officer. Views are personal)