The Gujarat Regional Chapter of the Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI) on Saturday hosted a high-level workshop on &ldquo;Densification of Existing Cities: Opportunities &amp; Challenges&rdquo; in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;
Organised as part of Urban Development Year 2025, declared by the Gujarat government, the event drew urban planners, government officials, academics, and industry leaders from Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Goa.
Compact Growth for a Crowded Future
Opening the session, ITPI National President N K Patel highlighted India&rsquo;s pressing land challenge. With less than one acre per citizen compared to China&rsquo;s 2.5 times more and more than 50 cities already above one million residents, Patel said unchecked sprawl inflates costs, strains infrastructure, and worsens civic problems.&nbsp;
Compact growth, he argued, can make land use efficient, strengthen public transport, cut carbon emissions, and build cohesive communities. He noted that both state and central governments have recognised the importance of planned densification and launched several initiatives in recent years.
CEPT University President Barjor Mehta stressed that cities are India&rsquo;s real engines of prosperity. To move from a $4 trillion economy to $10 trillion, he said, Indian cities must be dynamic, productive, and efficient.&nbsp;
Densification, he added, must mean more than taller buildings it should focus on economic density and job creation. &ldquo;Cities that stop renewing themselves suffer economic death,&rdquo; he warned.
Making Cities Inclusive and Smart
Urban planner Ritu Joshi said redevelopment within city limits must prioritise affordable housing, mixed-use neighbourhoods, and accessible public spaces to ensure inclusivity.&nbsp;
Arvind Menon, another planner, pointed to technology as a key enabler, with smart mapping of land use, transport, and housing demand helping cities take sharper, faster decisions.
Officials showcased Gujarat&rsquo;s track record of more than 1,000 town planning schemes, including the upcoming high-speed rail corridor prepared in just eight months. The day-long sessions featured global case studies, digital tools, and policy discussions, with experts agreeing that compact, mixed-use redevelopment can drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

Planners urge densification to cut costs, improve transit, and make cities productive

Densification Key to India’s $10 Trillion Goal

Planners urge densification to cut costs, improve transit, and make cities productive

September 6, 2025 | 18:15 IST