Air pollution in the city is result of mismanagement of urban area rather than gaps in urban planning. In metro cities, air pollution is majorly due to heavy vehicle emission, solid waste mismanagement and construction activities. Heavy vehicle emission is due to more number of private vehicles on the road for unusual duration. Number of private vehicle can be reduced by intervention of public transport facility with classified zero mile connectivity. Duration of vehicles on road can be reduced only through removal of encroachment over the road and junction improvements.
Urban Planners in REPL (Rudrabhishek Enterprises Ltd.) through various surveys & studies can propose an effective land use transportation model which will help in reducing the carbon emission and solid waste expose to air which will result in reduction of air pollution. But it is the urban administration which has to take strong initiative as per the aforesaid raised concerns.
Long-term plans for urban planning and transportation always work. In the next 10 years, the urban population is expected to increase by 30%. Provisions for this huge increase, along with required replacement of obsolete infrastructure, will provide a significant opportunity to plan and build in a rational manner to reduce air pollution impacts. If this opportunity is to be grasped, careful consideration of local land development policies, transport plans and new implementation methods, as well as increased receptivity to the regulation of private vehicles, will be needed.
In the planning of Smart Cities, various components are being incorporated to address these concerns. These include sufficient green belts, green building designs, efficient public transport systems, walk-to-work concepts, robust system for solid waste management etc.