Since a few years ago, “15-minute cities in Noida” have become a new way to plan cities. This model backs up the idea that all of life’s important spots, like work, school, the doctor, shopping, and fun things to do, should be just a 15-minute walk or bike ride away. Carlos Moreno was the first person to come up with this idea. Its goal is to make towns more sustainable, less crowded, and better places to live in general. In the National Capital Region (NCR), Noida is a major center for business and real estate. It could use this new way of planning towns since it is growing quickly and adding more facilities. But is Noida ready for life in a fully connected world?
Let’s talk about whether the 15-minute city idea could work in Noida, as well as the problems that might come up and the chances that it could open up.
How to Understand the 15-Minute City Model
People can quickly get to the 15-minute city and find most of the things they need. The model is built around six main ideas:
- Cut down on the time it takes to get to important services to save time.
- Diversity means having a range of living, working, and playing areas.
- Density is the best way to use land without making it too crowded.
- Ubiquity: Making sure that all people can get to it.
- Mobility: promoting infrastructure that is good for walking and biking.
- Sustainability: relying less on cars to cut down on carbon pollution.
These ideas could change the way people live in cities by making it easier and faster for them to do so.
What Noida City Looks Like Right Now
There are lots of wide roads, new buildings, and more businesses opening in Noida. It is now one of India’s best-planned cities. IT parks, business hubs, and high-end housing projects have helped the city’s real estate market grow.
Noida’s 15-minute city idea might work if these things happen:
- As it stands, the city already has neighborhoods and business districts that are connected to each other, making them places where people can live and work.
- Using the Delhi Metro or the Noida Metro Aqua Line will be a better and simpler approach to mobility.
- When you have some free time, enjoy fun in the parks, walking paths, and community centers in Noida.
- People can easily reach colleges, hospitals, and schools as they are dispersed around the city.
Even with these good points, Noida still has problems that need to be fixed before the 15-minute city idea can be fully adopted.
Problems with Putting it into Action in Noida
The idea of a Noida that is highly linked is exciting, but there are some problems that need to be solved first:
Problems with urban sprawl and zoning
Noida has big residential areas that are far away from the business districts, which makes commutes long. The separation of residential, commercial, and industrial areas by traditional zoning rules makes it harder for a 15-minute city to become fully integrated.
Traffic jams and relying on cars
Noida has well-planned roads, but traffic is still bad, especially on major routes like the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. Streets need to become friendlier to pedestrians and bike lanes need to be improved.
No way to connect at the last mile
Even though train and bus services have grown, getting people to their final destination is still a problem. Feeder services, bike lanes, and paths for people to walk need a lot of work.
Affordable housing and development that includes everyone
A 15-minute city needs housing that is affordable for it to be effective. There are more high-end housing buildings in Noida, but everyone should be able to get the services they need.
Too few holes in the digital and smart infrastructure
To be very connected, a city needs smart infrastructure. This includes AI-based traffic control, IoT-based public services, and good trash collection systems. This is getting better in Noida, but the tech needs to get even better.
Noida might be able to use the 15-Minute City Model
Noida is on track to become a very well connected city, even though these issues still remain. These are some ways the city can make the change:
Letting projects with a range of uses happen
People who build neighborhoods should try to make them fully integrated, so that homes, businesses, and stores all live together. This method is already being used in places like Sector 150, Sector 137, and the soon-to-be-built Noida International Airport route.
Making sustainable transportation better
- Adding more bike tracks and areas that are safe for pedestrians.
- Improving the facilities for electric vehicles (EVs).
- Using e-rickshaws, shuttle services, and other shared transportation choices to connect the last few miles more quickly and easily.
Getting the most out of plans for smart cities
Noida’s Smart City project can help with these things:
- Traffic and public transportation will be run by AI.
- Use green energy and know the state of the air in real time.
- A lot of public services are being turned into digital files to make the government work better.
Getting people interested in the area and helping small businesses in the area
- Small businesses in the area can use digital tools and the market.
- Adding places to work together and see art will make neighborhoods livelier.
- Getting people to walk by making the streets more colorful and giving people places to meet in public.
Green city design and building that is good for the environment
- Rooftop gardens and more green spaces are being added.
- There should be rules about buildings that use less energy and catch rainwater.
Adding more urban forests and green public areas.
Conclusion: Are you ready for the 15-Minute City Revolution?
Noida could become a 15-minute city, but urban planners, policymakers, real estate developers, and people all need to work together to make it happen. With its metro links, infrastructure, and mixed-use developments, the city is in a good place to start. But changing zoning laws, making it easier for people to get around, making last-mile connections better, and focusing on growth that includes everyone are all very important steps. With smart planning and fresh ideas, Noida can become a city that is truly linked, sustainable, and a great place to live.
India could learn how to grow in a smart, sustainable, and community-driven way from the 15-minute city idea. It could also change how people live in towns.
