A new eco city is coming up in Shanghai, China, paving the way for many eco cities that will be built around the planet. The eco city is made from eco friendly materials that don’t harm the environment. The other features include a zero mission transport zone and hence battery powered vehicles can only be used in the city.
The city was planned to open in Expo 2010 with the initial accommodation facilities for 10,000 people. By the year 2050, the city is expected to attain a size that will be one third of Manhattan. The total estimated population at that time is expected to be at least 500,000. However the project is behind schedule and no physical construction has begun. The project has set an example for other countries that may soon begin to design such eco cities.
The developer of the eco city in Shanghai is Arup. The consruction firm was contacted in 2005 by Shanghai Industrial Investment Company to design the project. The eco city will be located on Chongming Island which is close to Shanghai. The project was even presented at the United Nations World Urban Forum in China as an example of the first of its kind eco mega city. These cities have zero greenhouse emissions and they are totally self sufficient in energy and water. Even the energy used in the project by the household owners will be comparatively low. Most of the city’s eco waste can be recycled.
There will be only green transport in the city. Hence people will arrive at the coast and vehicles will not be allowed beyond the main entry point. People can cycle within the city or use the battery powered public transport. People may start buying houses in this complex as an investment as well as spending their holidays or weekends.
There has been mixed reactions of people to the project. The media has published largely negative reports due to the project’s delay and shortcomings. The critics have also stated that Dongtan will not have a very big effect on the Chinese cities that will always have the majority of the population. Arup is also taking less interest in its green projects in China which also include the commercial establishments and the airport. In spite of the various criticisms that the new eco city has faced, it is paving the way for the future when more of these green cities will come into existence.