The Indus Valley Civilization’s urban settlements had exceptional planning, particularly in terms of sanitation and drainage. It has contributed significantly to contemporary urbanisation. Dealing with unplanned development has been one of the most pressing concerns in Indian urban planning.
Evidences of IVC urban planning and culture in present day
- The streets of the IVC were laid out in grid-like layouts, allowing for deliberate and planned growth. In modern times, Le Corbusier’s ideas for Chandigarh called for a rectangular shape with a gridiron pattern to facilitate traffic flow and reduce the city’s footprint.
- Additionally, the IVC properly defined the town’s residential zones and common/public areas.
- IVC’s granaries are also an example of intelligent design, with strategically positioned air ducts and unitized platforms.
- The houses in the IVC were built in such a way that they did not interfere with the road layout in any way. Instead of opening onto the street, the residences had doors that opened onto the lanes. Eg. Lothal
- The use of tanks and ponds to store water has been noted in the IVC’s rain-scarce cities, particularly Dholavira. Such a water conservation strategy is still applicable in India’s water-scarce regions.
- The IVC’s drains connected each and every residence, allowing residents to dispose of trash immediately.
- These sewers were completely covered and connected directly to the main sewerage outlets. For maintenance, there were holes in the sewers and manholes in the streets so that people could inspect them out.
The Indus Valley Civilization is regarded as India’s first wave of urbanisation. There is no doubt that the Indus Valley Civilization had a significant impact on Indian urban planning and culture.