ARTICLE | Post-Covid City Planning
Covid to change cities’ urban governance Pandemics have not been uncommon in the vast stretch of human history. Every time a pandemic hits the world, a different aspect of city life is modified to better protect and avoid the chances of recurrence of the disease. The COVID-19 pandemic is quite unique in the sense that it is likely to affect almost all aspects of urbanisation in one way or the other. Which aspects will be affected the most? How will they be modified to suit the ‘new normal’ in the post-Covid period? Ashley Paul Reporter
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he unprecedented onset of the COVID-19 pandemic across the world forced a majority of countries to go into a state of complete lockdown. Along with this, the pandemic also brought with itself a string of practices that must be followed in order to stay safe from the disease spread. Social distancing, personal hygiene, sanitation, sewage management, and disinfection of surroundings are some of the most popular practices around the world that have come in the limelight mainly due to COVID-19. However, experts predict that the pandemic has brought with itself a sense of awareness amongst governments and policy makers of the need to reorient civic amenities – their organisation, implementation, distribution and effectiveness. To know more about the possible changes that might take place, in the form of opportunities or challenges, Urban Update contacted various professionals who are experts in their areas of work.
Transport and Open Spaces
The transport sector has undergone massive changes in the recent past. With the introduction of eco-friendly motorised vehicles in the public transport sector and innovative and faster methods of travelling, the world was moving fast towards sustainable mass transit systems. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, transportation was brought to a grinding halt across the world. Now, with the world gearing up to mould itself into the newnormal, a number of experts are predicting massive changes in the most basic characteristics of urban transportation. In order to get a more detailed sense of what is about to change in the time to come, Urban Update contacted DrSewa Ram, Professor, Transport Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi. Dr Ram, while noting the opportunity presented to policy
32 June 2020 | www.urbanupdate.in
