Creating Next-Gen cities across India
India’s Urban Population contributes 63% to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP), which is expected to rise to 75% by 2030. Despite
this huge contribution, growth has not been equitable across
cities, creating extreme pressure on megacities.
Our mega-cities are witnessing growth of informal sector in form
of slums and unorganised economic activities,
overcrowding, deterioration of quality of civic
infrastructure, traffic and transportation inadequacies, climate
change, and an increasing disconnect with our culture and
heritage.
While the economic revolution of the last 25 years moved India
towards a paradigm that focuses on urban economic
development, it is now evident that India must develop solutions
that prioritise more equitable and sustainable growth for its next-
gen cities.
How India Recognises the Need of Urban
Development?
▪ India's first pan-Indian urban vision was articulated in the
1980s with the creation of the National Commission on
Urbanisation (1988).
▪ The Indian Constitution establishes a clear mandate
for Democratic Decentralization (Municipality) in India's
urban space through its Directive Principles of State
Policy and 74th Amendment Act 1992.
▪ Additionally, the 15th Finance Commission report on
local bodies emphasised the need to empower city
governance structures financially.
▪ Recent Government Initiatives:
o Smart Cities
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o AMRUT Mission
o Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban
o Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana
o Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (self-reliant India)
What are the Major Issues Related to Indian Cities?
▪ Lack of Robust City Planning: India faces a lack of
robust and uniform city planning, which according to
a UNEP report, may be costing us up to 3% of our GDP
every year.
o It includes the absence of uniform urban design
standards for crucial public utilities, such
as urban roads and footpaths.
o Most of the town planning authorities face a
lack of modern and eco-friendly techniques,
which results in infrastructural ineffectiveness.
▪ Accountability Mismatch: City governments are led by
the city Mayor/Council. This model, which is the
common governance mechanism in most cities.
o However, they are managed by a spectrum
of disorganised government bodies and
parastatals (such as water, transport and
development authorities) run by the state
government through which they often influence
city affairs and policy.
o This leads to accountability mismatch and
collision of responsibilities.
▪ Absence of Citizen Centrism: There are no structured
platforms for citizen participation (ward committees
and area sabhas), no coherent participatory
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processes (such as participatory budgeting), weak
citizen grievance redressal mechanisms and low levels
of transparency in finances and operations, adds to the
problem.
o An absence of a strong component
of transparency, accountability and
participation have resulted in weak levels of
engagement between citizens and
governments, therefore leads to low levels of
trust and in general tarnished democratic
values of a city.
▪ Unauthorised Settlements and Slums: People
who migrate from rural to urban areas cannot afford the
high cost of living in urban areas, which leads to the
growth of slums as safe havens for migrants.
o According to the World Bank, the population
living in slums in India was reported at 35.2 % of
the total urban population. Dharavi in
Mumbai is considered the largest slum in Asia.
▪ Inefficient Sewage Facilities: Rapid urbanisation leads to
haphazard and unplanned growth of cities, most of
which suffer from inadequate sewage systems.
o According to GOI almost 78% of the sewage
generated in India remains untreated and is
disposed of in rivers, lakes, or sea.
▪ Inefficient Transport and Climate Change: Many city
dwellers use private transport more often for
maintaining social status. This has led to overcrowding
of roads, pollution, and increased travel times.
o Also, the growing number of vehicles in Indian
cities is viewed as the essential driver
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of climate change due to high dependence on
combustible fuel.
What Should be the Way Forward?
▪ Centre-State Collaboration in City Development: Central
government can lead the way by framing city model laws
and policies.
o State governments must hold the beacon for
driving institutional reforms in spatial
planning, fiscal decentralisation, overhauling
cadre and recruitment rules for
municipalities, empowering mayors and
municipal councils, and instituting
decentralised platforms for citizen
participation.
o Also, Indian cities can devise a common digital
GIS base-map of different wards, shared
among the plethora of agencies involved in
delivering services.
▪ Organising the Informal Urban Economy: It is important
to gather data on migrants for use in city
development activities benefiting migrants.
o The Labour Ministry's proposed Unorganised
Worker Index Number Card would also help
formalise the workforce.
▪ Involvement of Citizenry: Citizens must be
made stakeholders in city-making through awareness
programmes about urban planning processes being
made available to them and their elected leaders.
o City leadership must also be enlightened and
aware of how to make cities both liveable and
inclusive.
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▪ Urban Employment Guarantee: Urban areas need a
scheme similar to MGNREGA to provide basic living
standards to urban poor.
o The Indira Gandhi Urban Employment
Guarantee Scheme has been rolled out in
Rajasthan is a good step in this direction
▪ Towards Green Transition: There is a need to align
towards effective solutions for urban issues that can
include blue- green infrastructure, mixed-use of public
spaces and use of alternative energy sources such as
solar and wind.
o Public-private partnerships should also be
invited for the green transition of cities.
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