15 Minutes City – How India’s affluent is Achieving this in a Perverted Way

Cities expanded as transport improved. When walking was the predominant mode, it spanned a few km. With horse carriage, it expanded to 5-10 km. But the industrial revolution and affordable automobile travel allowed the cities to explode. And since then it has added to other modes of transport (like city trains, metros/ tubes, etc.) and cities have only become larger.

The value of urbanization both for economic growth and access to facilities is beyond the debates. However it comes with many shortcomings, the primary being the inordinate time one spends moving from one place to other. And apart from being largely unproductive, this adds to the expense and triggers many health issues.

Much has been tried as a solution. Going digital for work and service delivery, eCommerce has significantly reduced the need to travel. And all of them got a boost during the pandemic, and a significant amount of them will stick as habits.

But not everything can be digitalized or delivered to the doorstep. And humans are social animals, we need to meet others to feel a sense of being, and accrue long-term physical and intellectual benefits.

So what happens if we can design city hubs where almost everything that we need can be within a 15-minute walking distance? This will reduce traffic and pollution, improve health, and leave time to pursue what we love. This is the core theme of 15 minutes city.

The idea is not new. Though the term was coined by urbanist Carlos Monero, it draws inspiration from a body of work including that of Jane Jacobs. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo fought elections on similar promises, and Melbourne has a plan for a 10-minute neighborhood. Oxford is at the present center of a heated debate to implement in pockets.

Curiously, over the last couple of decades, the concept of a 15-minute city has come to India, but in a very perverted way. These are called gated communities. What started as apartments/ layouts with dwelling units, dedicated parking lots, backup generators, and gate security has slowly evolved into mini-cities.

Over a period because of regulatory and/ or market demands, utility backups were augmented with common recreational areas (clubhouse), grocery shops, health clinics, and such other facilities which are needed on day to day basis. And now mega facilities are coming, with schools, malls, hospitals, shopping centers, workspaces, and even helipads.

So for many only need to go out will possibly be when one leaves the town. And if the house is centrally airconditioned, it is now a cocoon within the bubble of existence. And we all know this is not a good idea – either for the residents of such facilities, or society at large. And sooner or later the social tensions will spill out in the open with unknown/unintended consequences.

Good intentions will however never result in good outcomes. However much we may find these so-called urban islands for the affluent abhorrent, this is also a reality. As disposable income increases, one will look for better comfort. And if the cities fail to provide it, the rich will create it in their way.

So what can a city like Bengaluru do to have a few 15-minute hubs? The following are essential:

1. One can potentially walk a little over 1km comfortably, so let’s put this as an upper limit one can traverse before taking a motorized transport (we can include a cycle as an alternative to walking, this will expand the hub. But without cycle tracks, it can be dangerous, and not all can cycle).

2. All the key basic needs that are needed in one’s life can be identified, and using the Pareto principle (80 / 20 rule) can be prioritized. These possibly will have a workspace, school, primary healthcare, malls/ shopping areas, grocery, food stores, restaurants, entertainment centers, open spaces, and access to metropolitan transport hubs (bus stops, metro stations, shared transport hubs).

3. Walk path from each population hub can be mapped to the facilities. This will need a footpath, skywalks (with elevators), signage, working signal (visual as well as audio), and wheelchair access. Also, significant lighting as good avoidance of blind spots is needed for vulnerable populations to feel confident.

4. Adequate support including trained traffic personnel, drinking water stations, availability of paramedic support in case of emergency, and use of technology to make the walks both comfortable and safe should be the goal.

5. A citizen campaign of awareness of both the availability of the facilities, as well the benefits will be needed to change the habits. Celebrity endorsements and visible adoption by civic leaders will be helpful. Also, in a long run, ways need to be found to award healthy living, maybe at the community level based on the adoption.

Let us discuss and see whether we can create some sample success stories in one of the most forward-looking cities in the country. And encourage people in other places to get encouraged and adopt.