(General Studies III – Economy Section – Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.)
- India’s cities are the engines of economic growth, contributing nearly 63% of the national GDP (NITI Aayog, 2021) and housing 40% of the population (World Bank).
- However, rapid urbanization driven by migration, economic transformation, and rising aspirations has also made cities the epicenters of inequality, climate vulnerabilities, and inadequate infrastructure.
Challenges Faced by Indian Cities –
- Inadequate Urban Infrastructure: 30% of urban households lack access to piped water (NSSO, 2021). Poor public transport systems lead to congestion, with 18 of the 20 most congested cities globally located in India (TomTom Traffic Index, 2023).
- Housing and Slums: 40% of urban residents live in slums, lacking access to adequate sanitation and housing. Example: Dharavi in Mumbai remains one of Asia’s largest slums despite numerous redevelopment plans.
- Climate Change and Pollution: Urban areas contribute 75% of India’s CO2 emissions (CSE, 2022). Example: Delhi NCR faces severe air quality issues, with AQI frequently exceeding 300, impacting health and productivity.
- Rising Inequality: Exclusive urban development projects cater to the wealthy, leaving millions in informal housing or without basic amenities. Gini Coefficient data highlights increasing inequality in cities like Mumbai and Delhi.
- Governance Deficits: Despite the 74th Constitutional Amendment, less than 3 of the 18 listed functions have been fully devolved to urban local bodies. Example: Cities like Bengaluru face overlapping jurisdictions between municipal corporations and parastatals.
- Migration and Overcrowding: High rural-to-urban migration leads to overcrowded cities, straining resources. Example: Chennai and Hyderabad have seen population growth outpacing infrastructure development.
- Urban Flooding and Heat Islands: Poor drainage and encroachments worsen flooding in cities like Bengaluru and Mumbai. Urban heat islands exacerbate health risks, with temperatures in cities like Ahmedabad rising by 2-4°C compared to surrounding areas.
| •Smart Cities Mission: •Aims to develop 100 smart cities with integrated infrastructure and citizen-centric governance. •Example: Pune’s Smart City initiative has improved waste management and public transport. •AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation): •Focuses on water supply, sewerage, and non-motorized urban transport in 500 cities. •Over 60 lakh tap water connections provided under the mission (NITI Aayog, 2023). •PMAY-Urban (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban): •Target to provide housing for all by constructing 1.12 crore houses, with 82 lakh completed by 2024. •National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): •Urban Resilience initiatives like the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat focus on energy efficiency and sustainable urban planning. •Swachh Bharat Mission – Urban 2.0: •Focuses on solid waste management and urban cleanliness with cities like Indore leading the way. |
Way Forward: Vision 2047 by NITI Aayog –
- Integrated Urban Planning: Adopt GIS-based planning tools for smarter land-use management and sustainable urban expansion.
- Climate-Resilient Cities: Expand urban green cover by 30% by 2030 and implement rooftop solar initiatives under the PM-KUSUM Scheme.
- Strengthening Urban Governance: Fully implement the 12th Schedule, ensuring elected ULBs control urban planning, water supply, and waste management. Increase fiscal transfers to 2% of GDP for urban development.
- Affordable Housing and Livelihoods: Scale up PMAY to cover 100% of urban homeless by 2030 and develop skills for urban migrants through Skill India Mission.
- Public Transport and Mobility: Expand metro networks to all Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities and focus on EV adoption to reduce urban emissions by 40% by 2030.
| •Indore: Cleanest City in India: •Comprehensive waste segregation and processing model, complemented by biomethane plants powering city buses. •Indore’s solid waste management serves as a blueprint for urban cleanliness. •Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan: •India’s first city-specific heat action plan, reducing mortality from heatwaves by 25% over the past decade. •Bengaluru Urban Flooding Mitigation: •Digital flood monitoring systems using IoT to predict and manage flood-prone areas effectively. •Kochi’s Integrated Mobility: •Implementation of metro systems integrated with water transport, setting a benchmark for sustainable urban transport. |
| Indian cities are at a crossroads, with immense potential to drive economic growth but burdened by structural inefficiencies and socio-environmental challenges. With visionary planning, inspired by model cities and guided by NITI Aayog’s Vision 2047, India can transform its cities into global hubs that balance growth with equity. |
