Analysing Global Approaches for Urban Renewal: A Tool for Urban Conservation, Case Study of India

The purpose of the paper is to provide insight into the theoretical as well as practical processes of urban renewal. The study helps to understand the term urban renewal, urban revitalisation, urban regeneration, urban redevelopment, urban rehabilitation, and urban transformation through literature study. This study also analyses the various past and present approaches towards urban renewal in a pursuit to unlock the potential of future urban renewal projects. Today, as the world progresses on the path of urbanisation, the scope of urban renewal is very high. The paper tries to evaluate the current status of urban renewal and understand its future possibilities. It aims to analyse the global approaches for urban renewal, in order to understand its evolution towards becoming more holistic and inclusive, catering to social, economic, environmental, and cultural needs of contemporary areas. The objective is to review some of the approaches taken by leading countries in major urban renewal projects carried out through time. It is also to understand the various terms used by the countries for such interventions through extensive literature study. It is to glance at the Indian context to look into urban renewal schemes and practices within India, critically analyse newer approaches like participatory urban renewal and also scrutinises the future of urban renewal. This has been done by analysing Nizamuddin urban renewal project, India, where urban renewal has also been used as a tool for urban conservation. The paper concludes on a note on the future of urban renewal towards a positive impact. Urban renewal is the future of contemporary cities. Planned urban extension along with urban renewal is a reality that will shape the urban future. Next generation of urban renewal projects will have to combine considerations of economic growth and social equity, along with environment and cultural concerns, in order to make the whole exercise more relevant and impactful.