The Making of Vibrant Cities is a collection of ideas on urban themes straddling urban governance, finance, land use and planning, transportation, sustainability and climate change, etc. in an effort to bring together the thinking of various experts on meeting with the challenges of urbanization. Drawing contributions from an eminent group of people, this book is the first-of-its-kind in India, as it brings together former policymakers, practitioners, experts, and academics to share their perspectives on various urban issues, given the interdisciplinary nature of the challenges facing them. The book provides comparative perspectives, and constructive ideas needed to transform urban India, and improve the quality of life for more than 377 million urban dwellers. Comprising observations from renowned international authors who have studied various BRICS nations closely, drawing parallels on the development of various cities scattered across these countries, this volume brings to focus the similarity of issues faced by them even though in varying magnitudes. This similarity manifests itself in the quality of life — congestion and insufficient urban transport infrastructure, pollution, slums, dilapidated buildings, intermittent water supply, potted roads, littered streets, uneven pavements, and lack of open spaces. The Making of Vibrant Cities serves as an ideas handbook for various stakeholders, and helps steer policy research, design, and implementation efforts related to urban development across the BRICS nations.
About the Author
The concept of Bombay First drew inspiration from the emergence of London First which assumed the role of facilitating the repositioning of London through various initiatives. Much like how the big business houses in London came together to form London First, major industries and business houses in Mumbai, with the initiative of Bombay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, came together to create Bombay First. Bombay First has been formed largely as a think tank of the city, and also to assume a more specific role as a catalyst to foster partnerships with various stakeholders. Some of the highly eminent promoters and patron members include the Tatas, the Mahindras, Godrej, Hindustan Lever, Asian Paints, SBI, ICICI, HDFC, etc. Bombay First, now branded as Mumbai First, was established in 1995 with the vision of improving the quality of life in Mumbai and making it a globally competitive, world class city.
