Form Based Codes

Smart Cities are complex ecosystems and deal with large number of issues like urban sprawl, pollution, deteriorating public realm, mobility, management of water, waste water and solid waste, safety and security services, energy, housing, education and health amongst many others. Functions of city governments are organized into multiple layers of administration, departments, agencies and are each responsible for management of some core functions integral to the working of the city. The importance of using alternative methods to resolve critical problems faced by cities cannot be exaggerated. In fact, smart cities are all about getting the sustainable solutions for citizens and to solve complex urban issues.

India’s rapid urbanization, driven by massive rural to urban migration is causing significant alteration of natural landscapes and is creating infrastructure crisis in urban areas, particularly in the megacities which absorb large volumes of the population influx. India is expected to reach a population of 600 million by 2031. There’s a need to review the current development approach to mitigate the impacts of unplanned urbanization, ease the migration pressures and streamline urbanization processes. A huge task lies ahead for the government to accommodate this growth and position India’s development at par with global standards. To solve this myriad complex issue faced by cities, it is vital to look at alternative ordinances, standards and best practices to adopt an approach that acts at the local level, involves the community, promotes predictability in outcome, meets the development and growth needs of the city and is transparent in its formulation and implementation.

Smart Cities Mission-Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is developing ‘Form Based codes framework for cities’ to leverage the potential of urban design strategies and community insights for addressing livability of urban areas in Smart Cities. Form Based codes framework focus on bottom up approach towards development whereby community needs are placed at the center of development practices and priorities. It is a contextualized granular level planning framework that supports cities in becoming self-sufficient and sustainable. This framework intends to enable peer to peer learning across cities over the adoption and implementation approach of form-based codes for achieving ease of living through sustainable practices.

Form Based Code Sector Framework documents are intended to be used by city managers, municipal commissioners, CEOs of smart cities SPVs for development & integrated planning. These framework documents will help develop capacities of these officers to better understand form based codes in terms of policy perspective, designing, financing, technology and overall development.

Your feedback and suggestions over draft consultation paper (access the document here) would be invaluable for us. We request you to provide your feedback/ suggestions/ recommendations on this consultation paper, here, by 24 January 2019.