Impact of Gated Communities on Local Mobility

Abstract

Gated communities are residential areas with restricted access designed to privatize normally public spaces. These secluded clusters of houses form a separate community within its walls. They often have facilities and infrastructures that are not open to the public. Mobility is the ability to move or travel around easily. Kathmandu has seen a surge in the development of gated communities. These communities restrict access and contribute to densification while reducing access. Gated communities especially housing colonies are gaining a lot of popularity in Kathmandu valley. Most these developments are constructed in the suburban or periurban areas where the growth and development is relatively low. The introduction of these projects accelerates the rate of population growth and infrastructure development. With the first gated community, Kathmandu Residency, an apartment complex development starting in 2000 A.D. followed by the first housing colony, Civil Homes, in 2001 A.D. Construction and sale of housing colonies have skyrocketed. This boom in real estate development business comes along as proper regulations and guidelines are lacking to adequately regulate such developments. The inadequacy in regulation, lack of proper and specific guidelines causes various issues and impacts in the society and lives of the general public excluded from these secluded abodes. This research aims to identify the legal provisions and restrictions of these gates. It shall look into if and how accessibility is or can be affected. A literature review of gated communities and a review of legal documents related to housing, public roads and lands confirm that the law for approval and allowance of construction of housing colonies and particularly gates in such colonies are lacking. Direct observation and unstructured in-depth interviews reveal that accessibility is a growing issue with the increase in urbanization, population growth and densification. Opening the gates of such communities or them requiring to provide access should be an option to increase accessibility and mobility of the growing area.