Can self-sufficient, 15-minute neighbourhoods make Bengaluru a more liveable city? Premium

Will Bengalureans travel less and thus reduce the transportation load on roads if most of their needs – groceries, schools, healthcare, recreational avenues – are available within a 15-minute walk from their homes? As the city struggles to deal with its extreme congestion, water crises and unpredictable weather-triggered woes, can this 15-minute neighbourhood concept spark a much-needed turnaround?

Will Bengalureans travel less and thus reduce the transportation load on roads if most of their needs – groceries, schools, healthcare, recreational avenues – are available within a 15-minute walk from their homes? As the city struggles to deal with its extreme congestion, water crises and unpredictable weather-triggered woes, can this 15-minute neighbourhood concept spark a much-needed turnaround?

Desperate scenarios call for desperate action, and this hyper-local model might just be a way out. “By ensuring that essential services, amenities, and opportunities are within a short walk from every doorstep, we can foster a sense of community, reduce reliance on cars, and improve quality of life for residents.” This articulation by Rakesh Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, State Urban Development Department, clearly maps a doable, workable rescue act out of the city’s inglorious urban mess.

But can retro-fixing work in a city that has gained notoriety for unplanned, unregulated growth, triggering unprecedented urban chaos? Many urban policy analysts are convinced that the 15-minute model fits the bill. “The concept addresses a key challenge in the planning process – tailored redevelopment of already-built, saturated cities to enhance the quality of life,” states the background note of the model’s comprehensive design guidelines prepared by Jana Urban Space Foundation.

The guidelines offer a structured roadmap to plan and implement the concept. To illustrate that it is workable, four city areas - Chickpete, Whitefield, Indiranagar, and Malleswaram – were selected as case studies. Distinct characteristics of each of these areas were identified: Primary land use patterns, population, built density, mobility patterns, availability of green spaces, public transit network, occupation, diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, and availability of land for development.

Targeted interventions helped identify the potential of these areas to transform into 15-minute neighbourhoods. The approach of the guidelines is to be flexible and complementary, providing quick wins through neighbourhood-specific proposals while addressing the gaps in planning and development. This is seen as significantly different from existing planning processes such as Land Use Planning, Transit Oriented Development, and Transport Planning.

Essentially, the guidelines are based on a framework of Move, Play, Sustain and Include. ‘Move’ is about integrated mobility and transport networks, accessibility and connectivity. The network here means non-motorised and public transport, safe intersections and organised utilities.

‘Play’ is about access to sustainable public spaces: parks, playgrounds and water bodies, designed to boost environmental sustainability and climate responsiveness. ‘Sustain’ implies access to local produce markets that promote sustainable farming and consumption patterns, reducing farm-to-table distances, and increasing economic opportunities.