A grounded theory approach for the assessment of urban development policies in Indian cities

Abstract

Urbanization in India has led to the development of new urban centres and an increase in the number of millionpluscities. The planning principles keep on evolvingwith time. In India, these principles are implementedthrough development plans. This study examines theextent to which Indian urban planning policies addresscontemporary urban planning principles in the perspectiveof rapidly evolving global urban policies. Developmentplans of 13 million-plus state capital cities acrossIndia have been analysed following grounded theory.The study reveals that Indian cities are not completelyembracing global contemporary urban planning principlesin their development plans, and the provision ofthese principles also differs among cities. The studyproposes suggestive planning measures which might beincorporated in the urban planning process to addressthe challenges arising out of complexities of urbanization.The study explores how development plans endorseand implement particular urban development strategiesand more generally, contributes to enforcement ofcontemporary urban planning principles. The goal ofthe study is to establish a link between contemporaryurban development principles articulated through thedevelopment plans