Sustainability, Liveability and Smart City in South Asia: Contextualizing People-Centric Approaches of Urban Development Through An Indian City

Cities in the Global South are experiencing unprecedented growth due to rapid urbanization. As these cities expand, they face multifaceted challenges stemming from population growth, resource management, and overall quality of life. In response, various strategies for urban development have been adopted by governments, policymakers, and academia. These strategies revolve around key concepts such as sustainability, liveability, and the emerging notion of smart cities, which increasingly integrate information and communication technology (ICT) into urban planning. While these development approaches aim to enhance the lives of urban residents, they often fail to fully incorporate the perspectives and needs of the city's population leading to the overlookedness of many sections of city dwellers.

Ludhiana City, located in the northern Indian state of Punjab, is a highly urbanised and industrialised city of the state and also it receives major attention from governments and policymakers for development. This paper attempts to understand the nexus between the emerging concepts of urban development along the associated challenges. It also draws evidence from the various government policies and development strategies of Ludhiana City to understand the role of people in urban development. This research is aimed at contributing to the ongoing urban development discourse by underscoring the importance of involving the local population as central stakeholders. It highlights the need for a more inclusive and responsive approach that complements top-down planning with bottom-up perspectives, ultimately guiding stakeholders in creating sustainable, liveable, and smart cities that genuinely prioritize the welfare of their inhabitants.