Planning for Sports Friendly City in Indian Scenario

Vignesh Karthik MP; Prof. Geetha A

Planning for Sports Friendly City in Indian Scenario

Author(s)	Mr. Vignesh Karthik MP, Prof. Geetha A
Country	India
Abstract	Urban environments significantly influence physical activity patterns, public health, and social interaction. In India, rapid urbanisation combined with changing lifestyles has resulted in reduced physical activity levels, contributing to rising non-communicable diseases and declining community engagement. The concept of a Sports-Friendly City addresses these challenges by integrating sports and recreational opportunities into everyday urban spaces through planning, policy, and governance mechanisms. This research examines planning strategies for developing sports-friendly cities in the Indian context by analysing international and national case studies and evaluating their performance using a composite benchmarking framework. A qualitative and comparative methodology based on secondary data, literature review, and policy analysis is adopted. International cities such as Barcelona, London, Singapore, and Doha are examined alongside Indian examples including Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, and Delhi. A ten-parameter assessment framework covering land use, accessibility, connectivity, governance, sustainability, inclusivity, economic contribution, health outcomes, cultural integration, and digital systems is used to evaluate performance. The findings reveal that international cities demonstrate stronger integration of sports into urban planning due to decentralised infrastructure, active mobility networks, and robust governance structures, while Indian cities show progress in infrastructure development but lag in neighborhood-level accessibility and policy coordination. The study proposes planning strategies focused on mandatory sports zoning, neighborhood-scale multi-use facilities, integration of active mobility, and data-driven governance. It concludes that sports-friendly urban planning can play a vital role in creating healthier, more inclusive, and sustainable Indian cities.
Keywords	Sports-Friendly City, Urban Planning, Active Living, Sports Infrastructure, Public Health, India
Published In	Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On	2026-02-10

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Planning for Sports Friendly City in Indian Scenario

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