National, February 13, 2025: India’s rapid urbanization poses significant challenges, from infrastructure deficits to climate change impacts. With urban areas projected to contribute 75% to the country’s GDP by 2036, sustainable city planning is more critical than ever. A new report by Primus Partners, Reviving Ancient Wisdom: Lessons from the Indus Valley Civilization for Modern Urban Planning in India, suggests drawing insights from the Indus Valley Civilization (IVC) to address contemporary urban concerns.
The report highlights the advanced town planning of IVC cities such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, which employed grid-based layouts, efficient water management systems, multi-purpose public spaces, and climate-responsive architecture. These principles, if adapted to modern urban development, could help mitigate pressing urban challenges.
The authors advocate for policy shifts that integrate these age-old, yet highly effective, strategies into present-day city planning. By leveraging such historical insights, India can develop urban spaces that are not only more sustainable but also more liveable, ensuring a resilient future for its growing population.
Key Insights from the Report
- Historical Urban Planning: Cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were built using grid layouts spanning 3.5 km², housing tens of thousands of residents. These structured designs ensured efficient land use and urban management, providing a model for modern cities.
- Advanced Water Management: The IVC featured sophisticated drainage systems, with wells serving each residential cluster and underground sewage networks directing waste to a central system. Implementing similar approaches could help India achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which emphasizes universal access to clean water and sanitation.
- Standardization in Development: Cities with well-defined regulatory frameworks show a 30% increase in compliance with urban planning standards. Establishing benchmark-driven policies could improve governance and streamline urban development.
- Climate Resilience: Ranked 7th in the Global Climate Risk Index, India faces growing environmental threats. Urban planning must integrate climate-conscious designs to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance sustainability.
- Lessons for Future Growth: With India’s urban population expected to reach 600 million by 2036, structured city planning could curb urban sprawl by 25%, fostering well-integrated and livable spaces.
Despite rapid urbanization, Indian cities lag in global rankings. No Indian city features in the top 100 of the Global Liveability Index, and Bangalore—the highest-ranked city domestically—scored only 66.7 on the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Ease of Living Index. This signals an urgent need for improved urban design and governance.
The report advocates for adopting grid-based layouts to optimize traffic flow, upgrading sewerage infrastructure to enhance sanitation, expanding green spaces to improve quality of life, and using climate-responsive materials to reduce energy consumption. By embedding these strategies into modern planning, Indian cities can become more resilient and future-ready.
Aarti Harbhajanka, co-author of the study, remarked, “To progress sustainably, we must first look back. The Indus Valley Civilization’s urban planning principles remain highly relevant, offering valuable insights for shaping livable cities today.”
Sandeep Reddy, co-author, added, “It may seem counterintuitive, but ancient history holds solutions to modern urban issues. The advanced city planning of the IVC offers lessons that, if applied today, could revolutionize how we approach urbanization.”
About Primus Partners Pvt Ltd
New Delhi-based Primus Partners Pvt Ltd is a leading management consulting firm with operations across India and a growing presence in the UAE. Specializing in technology, public policy, and impact advisory, the firm provides innovative solutions to drive sustainable growth in both public and private sectors.
