Renewal
of India’s Old Cities — A Path for Cultural Preservation and Sustainable
Urbanisation (IE)
GS Paper 1 (Indian Society & Culture), GS Paper 3 (Urbanisation), and Essay paper
Why In News
India's
urban future lies as much in revitalising its historic cities as in building
new ones, ensuring that development remains sustainable, inclusive, and rooted
in heritage.
Introduction: Old Cities as Living
Civilisations
India's
old cities are living repositories of its civilisational heritage, where
history, architecture, traditional knowledge, crafts, and spiritual traditions
continue to shape everyday life. Renewing these cities through
heritage-sensitive urban planning, as seen in the revitalisation of Varanasi and the heritage-led development of Ayodhya, is essential to preserve cultural
identity while fostering sustainable and inclusive urban growth.
Historic Cities as Centres of
Culture and Identity
Many
Tier-II and Tier-III cities grew around temples, trade routes, royal capitals,
and learning centres. They preserve architecture, traditional occupations,
local arts, and intangible cultural heritage.
Examples: Varanasi, Jaipur, and Madurai.
Metro-Centric Growth Creating
Regional Imbalance
i.
India’s urban growth remains heavily concentrated in
metropolitan cities, leading to congestion and unequal regional development.
ii.
Smaller historic cities often receive less investment
despite their economic and cultural potential.
Smart Cities Mission has improved
infrastructure, but many heritage cores still need focused renewal.
iii.
Example: Despite
infrastructure upgrades under the Smart Cities Mission, historic cores of
cities such as Jaipur continue
to face inadequate conservation and maintenance. In late 2025,
reports highlighted that parts of Jaipur's UNESCO-listed Walled City—including
heritage gates and public spaces—had deteriorated despite Smart City
investments, underscoring the need for dedicated heritage-led urban renewal
rather than generic infrastructure projects.
iv.
Example: Madurai is currently pursuing a Heritage Food Street project to
revitalize its historic core by integrating cultural heritage with tourism
and local economic development, demonstrating the growing recognition that
smaller heritage cities require targeted investments beyond conventional Smart
City infrastructure.
Market-Driven Urbanisation Ignoring
Local Needs
i.
Urban expansion is increasingly shaped by real estate and infrastructure
investments rather than local priorities. Wide roads, flyovers, and commercial
projects often replace traditional neighbourhood patterns. This weakens the
organic urban character of old cities.
ii.
EXAMPLE: Gurugram's rapid transformation into a
corporate and real estate hub demonstrates how investment-led urbanization
can overshadow traditional settlement patterns and weaken the organic urban
character of the region.
Weak Urban Governance and Planning
i.
Although the 74th Constitutional Amendment empowered Urban
Local Bodies, planning often remains centralised. Limited municipal capacity
reduces citizen participation in heritage-sensitive development. AMRUT Mission
aims to strengthen urban governance through better service delivery.
ii.
Example: Under AMRUT
2.0, cities such as Indore,
Surat, and Pune
are using GIS mapping, digital water supply management, and online
citizen service portals to improve governance, reduce service delays, and
enhance transparency in urban water and sewerage services.
iii.
The 'Drink from Tap' initiative under
AMRUT 2.0, implemented in cities like Puri, provides 24×7 safe drinking
water through continuous monitoring and digital quality tracking, improving
municipal service delivery.
Declining Heritage and Cultural Ecosystems
i.
Neglect of historic cores has led to the decline of
traditional crafts, cultural spaces, and heritage occupations. Migration of
youth to metros further weakens local economic vitality.This threatens both
tangible and intangible heritage.
ii.
Example: HRIDAY Scheme focuses on
heritage city preservation and infrastructure improvement Varanasi's
heritage core, where HRIDAY improved ghats, heritage streets, pedestrian
facilities, sanitation, and public amenities, strengthening heritage
conservation alongside tourism and urban infrastructure.
Why Old City Renewal Matters
i.
Renewing old cities reduces pressure on megacities and
promotes balanced regional development. It also protects heritage while
creating tourism and employment opportunities. Revival ensures that growth
remains culturally rooted and socially inclusive
ii.
Example: Ujjain – Mahakal Lok Corridor
iii.
Development of the Mahakaleshwar Temple precinct transformed Ujjain into
a major pilgrimage and tourism hub.
iv.
The project generated employment in construction, tourism, transport,
and local commerce while revitalizing the historic city.
Traditional Urban Design Offers
Sustainable Solutions
i.
India’s old cities already embody sustainable planning
through compact settlements, mixed land use, and climate-responsive
architecture. Narrow streets, shaded courtyards, and walkable neighbourhoods
reduce heat and energy use. These models are relevant for climate-resilient
urban planning today.
ii.
EXAMPLE: Ahmedabad’s historic walled
city uses compact settlements, shaded pols, narrow streets, and courtyards to
reduce heat stress, complementing its modern Heat Action Plan for climate
resilience.
Key Urban Challenges in Historic
Cities
i.
Despite their strengths, old cities face serious
infrastructure gaps such as:
·
Poor sanitation
·
Traffic congestion
·
Waste management issues
·
Inadequate parking and utilities
These issues reduce liveability and economic
productivity.
ii.
Example: Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) addresses
sanitation and waste management in cities.
iii.
The Government's Mission Zero Dumpsites initiative under
Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) 2.0, which uses biomining to reclaim legacy dumpsites
and urban land, exemplifies the transition towards sustainable and scientific
solid waste management
Way Forward: Conservation-Led Urban
Renewal
Inner-City Regeneration
Focus should
shift from urban sprawl to revitalising historic cores through better
infrastructure and public services.
Adaptive Reuse of Heritage
Old buildings can
be repurposed as museums, cultural centres, tourism hubs, and public
institutions.
Digital and Smart Governance
GIS mapping,
digital property records, and smart utilities can improve planning and service
delivery.
Example: PM Gati
Shakti enables integrated infrastructure planning using digital mapping.
Conclusion
India’s old cities represent the fusion of history, culture, and sustainable urban wisdom. Their renewal through conservation-led development can create resilient cities while preserving India’s rich civilisational legacy.