Assessment of the Impact of Built Environment on the Health Conditions of Adults of Bhubaneswar

Abstract: Post-independence, India planned several administrative cities and neighbourhoods for its provinces with the help of famous international architects and planners. Central and provincial agencies developed these cities following the original proposals until the 1990s. Since India's economic liberation in the 1990s, these cities (classified as tier 1 and late two) have grown haphazardly along major roads and highways. Also, mass migration and population boom have caused the development of unplanned satellite and peripheral centres around the outskirts of these cities. However, despite the economic significance, sharp contrasts in built environment characteristics, including urban planning elements, are evident in Indian cities' core and fringe areas. Further, uneven distribution of amenities and urban planning characteristics affect the health conditions of inhabitants in different parts of tier 1 and 2 cities.

India has experienced remarkable economic growth in the last two decades due to its large working adult population (around 900 million in 2022). However, recent reports have confirmed that obesity, depression, anxiety and other health-related diseases are on the rise among Indian adults. Further, the existing Indian literature on the built environment's impact on health conditions is focused on tier I cities, like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and others, and limited information on the same is available for tier II cities. This study explores the built environment's impact on the adults' physical and mental health conditions in Bhubaneswar, a tier 2 city. Bhubaneswar, designed by Otto Koenigsberger in 1946, is one of the few planned cities in modern India.

This research focused on the adult age group and their physical and mental health conditions in the heritage zone and planned core and unplanned outskirt regions of Bhubaneswar. A random sample of 360 respondents was selected and interviewed through a structured questionnaire. This interview was conducted in December, which provides pleasant weather conditions for outdoor activities. Regression analysis has been applied to understand the impact of micro-scale planning and design on adults' health conditions. Space syntax was also used to analyze the three zones' morphological settings.

The outcome of this study shows that some micro-scale urban elements (presence of parks and vegetation) and transportation facilities (number of bus stops) impact adults' health more than others. Further, adults with limited economic backgrounds from the planned city have better health conditions. However, the absence of open spaces and dedicated walking paths on the outskirts of the city is hindering the mobility-related activities of adults, hence causing serious health-related issues like depression, obesity, and diabetes.

The outcomes of this research will enhance the existing body of literature on the impact of microscale factors of the built environment on the health conditions of adults in a major tier II city. Policymakers and development authorities can use these results to improve the built environments and provide better living conditions to its residents.

Keywords: built environment, physical and mental health, walkability, India and Bhubaneswar