Rapid growth in the urban population places severe strain on housing, transport, and services, forcing every city to choose an effective response. In particular, while a city planner plays a valuable role, the main reliance should rest on new and coherent policy. On the whole, in my opinion, a strong policy sets the priorities that planning expertise alone cannot deliver during rapid urban growth.

Moreover, well-designed policy confronts the root causes of urban pressure by guiding land use and infrastructure funding across the city. For instance, zoning reform and better transportation near high-density housing reduce congestion while protecting accessibility for the growing population. Furthermore, because policy applies across the whole city, it provides the consistency and long-term direction that piecemeal planning cannot achieve.

Indeed, a city planner nevertheless remains essential in translating urban policy into feasible and context-sensitive development. Admittedly, the technical knowledge and spatial analysis of a planner ensure that regulation matches local conditions and real growth. However, if housing or transport policy is outdated, the planner is limited in what urban strategy they can actually deliver. Consequently, a strong policy gives the city planner the authority to organise management and anticipate expansion instead of reacting to every problem.

In conclusion, a city facing rapid population growth should primarily depend on new policy, with the planner implementing it effectively. Ultimately, policy leadership delivers scale and coherence, so prioritising policy reform lets urban growth be managed as a deliberate strategy.