Vision:

Our Vision is to make Greater Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan area an inclusive region which is humane, and balances its cosmopolitan cultural heritage and social fabric with equitable growth and efficient infrastructure. A city where living, working and mobility are less stressful and more enjoyable, with easily accessible amenities and public spaces for all. In this respect, urban planning and policy, urban design and heritage conservation are the core concerns of UDRI.

Mission:

Through research and multi-stakeholder interactions, UDRI aims to improve the quality of life for all its citizens, and works towards making the City and Region inclusive and humane, while balancing the cultural heritage and social fabric with equitable growth and efficient infrastructure. UDRI’s core urban planning policy and design interventions revolve around social and urban issues such as effective affordable housing efficient public transport, heritage conservation, environment and adequate standards for the provision of social amenities and infrastructure.

UDRI’s facilities and programs are driven by the objectives of providing a forum for interaction of urban professionals and making resources accessible to the general public. Most importantly, UDRI has shaped its advocacy and projects so that they reflect and answer the concerns and voices of Mumbai.

There are several facts and myths that surround Mumbai and the Metropolitan Region which need to be understood and dissected to unravel viable solutions for its improvement. Our brochure which highlights the key facts, myths and solutions is available here.

UDRI is structured around 5 key programs (click here, for details) that support its vision:

Resource Centre:
Instituted in 2003, the resource centre hosts a collection of books, reports, maps and newspaper clippings on Mumbai, accessible to all. It also houses the Charles Correa Archives – a unique, digitized collection of the work of the renowned architect.

Public Forum:
Begun in 1995, the forum has grown into a platform to engage with citizens and other organisations through lectures and workshops for understanding issues and framing solutions on the city.

Projects:
To complement the debates emerging from the public forum, UDRI has carried out a range of studies – for instance on the textile mills, Mumbai’s eastern waterfront and other regional dynamics.

Publications:
Since 1993, UDRI has published studies, manuals and monographs on various urban issues emerging out of its research initiatives and projects. It also produces the Mumbai Reader, an annual publication on the city’s key issues, in both Marathi and English.

Mumbai Studio:
The first Mumbai Studio was initiated in 2005 and continues to engage with young students, international institutions, local architecture schools and municipal schools to evolve a strategy for Mumbai through academic participation.