Examining the Acceptance of Digital Participatory Planning:

Abstract

Participatory planning is a bottom-up planning approach that employs non-traditional engagement techniques, combines citizen knowledge with professional knowledge, promotes open dialogue, and involves community members throughout all phases of the planning process while Digital participatory planning (DPP) is a subset of which utilizes technology to engage citizens in decision-making regarding urban development and holds promise for enhancing democratic governance and inclusivity in a more digitized world. Though the notion of participation and its association with the concept of planning and governance has become the new normal in the global north around the world, the role of information and communication technology (ICT) enabled innovations are challenging conventional means of communication between governments and citizens. India is at the forefront of several urban projects featuring an ICT component, such as the Smart Cities Mission, which prioritizes a bottom-up citizen involvement process using digital means. Considering the emergence of e-governance and smart city models driven by top level think tanks of central government of India, the present study attempts to examine the societal acceptance at micro-level or bottom level and institutional acceptance at lowest level of governance. Kolkata (a large city) and Barasat (a small town), part of the same urban agglomeration in West Bengal, India had been involved in the processes designed to bring about community participation and give local people appreciable control over the development programs being undertaken at ward level (micro-level). Taking these two settlements as case studies, this study explores the differences in the said societal and institutional acceptances between big cities and small towns in India. The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach for the purpose and uses opinion surveys, interviews, and government records as information. It considers availability and access to technological infrastructure, socio-economic factors, governance structures, and community engagement strategies as factors that impact the acceptance levels. In addition, this study also documents the best practices for adopting digital participatory planning in varying urban settings of India. The outcome of this research is Abstract Examining the Acceptance of Digital Participatory Planning: A Comparison of a Large City and a Small Town in an Urban Agglomeration ii expected to help enhance comprehension of how digital tools can efficiently promote citizen engagement and support more adaptable and sustainable urban development strategies in India. A detailed case study of these two settings offers deeper insights into factors that impact adoption of digital technologies to enhance participation in urban planning processes in Indian cities.