Hello Everyone,
Here is a roundup of Jana Urban Space Foundation’s recent participation in leading regional and national convenings, where the organisation contributed to conversations on urban planning, governance reform, regional economic development, and liveability. Our team contributed to discussions spanning land records and last-mile governance, urban drinking water, pedestrian-first street design, and economic planning at forums including the City Shapers Collective in Bengaluru and the Vibrant Gujarat Conference in Surat, and in commentary for The Wire, Swarajya, and Deccan Herald.
City Shapers Collective | Rethinking How Bengaluru Is Planned and Governed
As part of the City Shapers Collective hosted by the Mod Foundation, V R Vachana, Associate Director – Policy, shared insights from Shaping Urban India: By Design, Not by Default, using Bengaluru as a case study.
The session examined the structural and governance challenges shaping Bengaluru’s urban development, including the absence of a clear masterplan, fragmented governance systems, widespread plan violations, and limited use of data in decision-making. The discussion reflected on how these institutional gaps continue to influence quality of life in the city amidst increasing sprawl, congestion, and environmental stress.
Outlined five shifts to drive reform in Bengaluru:
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Create Neighbourhood Improvement Plans (NIPs) that translate the city’s vision into place-based action
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Invest in walkable streets that integrate mobility and drainage, while enhancing public space
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Adopt differentiated planning and governance models across the city’s five corporations
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Empower city corporations with clear authority over funds, functions, and functionaries
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Build and use city-level data systems to guide prioritisation, transparency, and delivery
In conversation with co-panelists Sarthak Pradhan, Dr. Gayathri D. Naik, and Pavan Srinath, the session also explored questions of water justice, civic coalitions, and feedback loops in policy making.
The discussion reinforced the importance of building stronger coalitions across stakeholders while strengthening legislative, policy, and governance systems to advance more equitable urban outcomes.
View highlights from the session: Link
At Vibrant Gujarat 2026 | Aligning Economic Growth with Liveability in the Surat City Economic Region
At the Vibrant Gujarat Conference 2026, Surjyatapa Ray Choudhury, Associate Manager – Urban Policy at Jana Urban Space Foundation, presented insights from Janaagraha’s work on economic planning and liveability, drawing from the report Shaping Urban India: By Design, Not by Default. The session focused on the Surat City Economic Region and was anchored by the Surat Municipal Corporation.
The discussion explored the economic master plan for the Surat City Economic Region, with particular attention to Surat’s future growth trajectory, regional competitiveness, and the role of integrated urban planning in enabling sustainable economic development. Drawing from the report, Surjyatapa highlighted the importance of aligning economic planning with liveability outcomes, strengthening institutional coordination, and building data-informed governance systems to support long-term urban transformation.
In conversation with co-panelists M Nagarajan, Municipal Commissioner, Surat, Anna Roy, Principal Economic Adviser, NITI Aayog, Gopal Prasad, IRS, Economic Adviser, MoHUA, and Poornima Dore, Founder, Dorian Scale, the session reflected on the opportunities and challenges shaping Surat’s emergence as a leading economic region. Discussions also touched on the importance of governance capacity, infrastructure integration, and collaborative planning frameworks in driving inclusive and resilient urban growth.
For more details, visit the official website: Link