BRICS nations for ‘integrated approach’ to urban development

Visakhapatnam, Sep 16 (PTI) BRICS nations have calledfor an "integrated approach" to urban development in aninclusive and sustainable manner through larger involvement ofpeople as they expressed concern over the consequences of"unplanned and unanticipated" urban expansion in membercountries. At the end of the three-day conference on "UrbanTransition of BRICS" here this evening, the member countriescomprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, alsocalled for a new "social contract" among the governments,people and other stakeholders to collectively address thechallenges in urban transition and enable an urbanrenaissance. Ministers, policy makers, experts and members ofacademia from member countries, who took part in the plenarysessions during the conference, stressed on the need forinclusive and sustainable urban development approaches basedon people’s participation in managing urban affairs. Expressing concern over the consequences of unplannedand unanticipated urban expansion, they pointed out thatenhancing planning, technical and financial capacities of citygovernments was the need of the hour. "Coordinated policies of federal, provincial and citygovernments are essential for an integrated approach to urbandevelopment and for forging effective partnerships withprivate sector for resource mobilisation in an enablingenvironment," they added. Addressing the closing session of the conference,Union Minister of State for Urban Development Rao InderjitSingh urged the BRICS nations to step up cooperation toeffectively address the new urban agenda focusing on inclusiveurban development. He said member countries should ensure effectivefollow up actions in pursuance of new urban agenda that wouldbe finalised at the HABITAT-III Conference to be held inQuito, Ecuador next month. Perspectives of members countries on various issuesconcerning urban transition, common concerns and positionsthereon would be presented at the ‘BRICS Summit’ to be held inGoa next month. PTI DBV NRB SRYPTP