Lessons COVID19 taught Urban Planners: Case of Chandigarh, India

Rapid urbanization in recent decades has led to burst of economic activities in the urban areas leading to comparatively higher standards of living to a larger population but has led to environmental degradation as well, which can be primarily attributed to the decline in green spaces due to increasing pressures on maximizing the monetization of urban spaces. There is no denying that green spaces have health benefits, both mental and physical, to the residents of the urban areas. COVID19 has highlighted the pertinence of green spaces as an intrinsic element for maintaining the quality of life of the people and to make the urban spaces sustainable. Chandigarh is one of the few planned cities of India. Now, a designated metropolis, it has experienced a surge in population growth, accommodating a million plus people as per the last census, with some pockets of remarkably high density. Further, the dependence on the city of its immediate and adjoining urban settlements has led to increased stress on its infrastructure. Chandigarh has area under urban greens as per the standards laid out nationally and internationally. These green spaces are distributed across the city at hierarchical levels, though equity of the same may be questioned. Over time, these spaces have emerged as melting pots of the city’s culture, being used for some specific purposes, contributing to the city’s wellbeing. The authors have researched upon the relevance and appropriateness of Chandigarh’s Master Plan and if the spatial spread of green spaces has contributed to containing the spread of COVID19. The sufficiency of the green spaces and its distribution across the city has been a question as well. Similarly, whether the distribution of densities influenced the spread of COVID19 has been examined. Further, it has been explored what needs to be essentially included in the plans of settlements to ensure the well-being of its people and enable the decision making to ensure well thought of spatial plans. The learnings can thus be adapted world over, appropriately modified to suit the local conditions.