BRICS nations for 'integrated approach' to urban development

BRICS nations have called for an "integrated approach" to urban development in an inclusive and sustainable manner through larger involvement of people as they expressed concern over the consequences of "unplanned and unanticipated" urban expansion in member countries.

At the end of the three-day conference on "Urban Transition of BRICS" here this evening, the member countries comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, also called for a new "social contract" among the governments, people and other stakeholders to collectively address the challenges in urban transition and enable an urban renaissance.

Ministers, policy makers, experts and members of academia from member countries, who took part in the plenary sessions during the conference, stressed on the need for inclusive and sustainable urban development approaches based on people's participation in managing urban affairs.

Expressing concern over the consequences of unplanned and unanticipated urban expansion, they pointed out that enhancing planning, technical and financial capacities of city governments was the need of the hour.