Articulating the Public Realm: Negotiating the contestation between informality and urban development through urban retrofitting in city of Solapur

Abstract

Exponential growth of informalities in the urban fabric of developing countries has become an important topic of discussion in recent times. In response to rapid urbanization, migration is acting as a catalyst for mutation of informalities in the cities. As cost benefits between rural and urban incomes are directly visible, it is leading to expansive and accumulative growth of the cities. The term informality was adopted from economic section referencing to something which is not legal. Similarly, spatial manifestation of informality is referred as encroachments in cities. There are different ways in which informality is theorized in relation with the political, economical and social aspect reflecting directly or indirectly on physical structure of the city. Interdependency of formal and informal sector is governed by these determinants which helps us to understand its nature. In early 21st century adverse effects of the liberalization policies were felt on labour, hence need for formulation of policies was recognized for the first time. So far to deal with informalities, relocating or removing, etc. are the tools which city authority tends to use. But these attempts have been unsuccessful in most of the cases and issue of encroachments is still unresolved. It can be noted that in the recently launched Smart City Mission by GOI, the sector of informalities still remains untouched. Wherein, spatial aspect of informality is one of the major factors governing the structure of place. Hence this study is an attempt to unfold the hidden physical structure of informality in the core city of Solapur. The physical determinants of formal setting and informalities around it are to be studied. Also the impact of these determinants on the quality of space in the precinct will be analyzed.