An Urban Tragedy Created by Governance Failures

Context

Recent tragedies in cities like Greater Noida, Delhi, and Indore—caused by open pits, structural collapses, and contaminated water—have exposed deep-rooted failures in India’s urban systems. These are not merely “accidents” but systemic outcomes of institutions failing to keep pace with rapid urbanization.

Core Issue

India’s urban population is projected to reach 40% by 2030, yet institutional capacity is lagging. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) are struggling to provide basic civic safety, leading to a decline in urban liveability and preventable loss of lives.

Key Reasons Behind Infrastructure Failure

1. Unsustainable Population Growth: Cities are absorbing migrants faster than infrastructure can expand; 31% of urban households still lack piped water.
2. Scientific Planning Deficit: Many cities lack updated Master Plans. Violations in land-use zoning lead to construction on wetlands and flood channels, increasing flooding
3. Fragmented Governance: Multiple agencies (municipalities, development authorities, state bodies) have overlapping jurisdictions, leading to a “passing of the blame” and no clear accountability.
4. Poor Coordination: A lack of unified command results in different departments repeatedly digging the same roads for utilities, leaving dangerous open pits and degraded surfaces.
5. Administrative Capacity Gap: There is a severe shortage of trained urban planners and engineers. Many ULBs are understaffed, underfunded, and lack regular municipal elections.
6. Quality & Maintenance Issues: Use of substandard materials and a lack of regular safety audits lead to collapses. Infrastructure is often built but rarely maintained.
7. Low Civic Responsibility: Low urban voter turnout reduces democratic pressure, while a lack of waste segregation and use of single-use plastics by citizens adds to the strain.

Global and Indian Best Practices

1. Singapore : Using smart drainage and naturalized canals for flood control.
2. Ahmedabad (Sabarmati Riverfront): Integrating urban renewal with scientific flood management.

Way Forward

1. Robust Planning: Implement mandatory master plans with strict land-use zoning and milestone-based monitoring.
2. Institutional Accountability: Conduct regular third-party safety audits and fix personal responsibility for accidents on officials and contractors.
3. Empowering ULBs: Ensure timely municipal elections, increase financial autonomy, and provide adequate technical staffing.
4. Integrated Management: Establish a single-window coordination system for all utility works and digitize underground service mapping.
5. Quality Assurance of material used in public infrastructure and life cycle audit of it.
6. Counter-Magnet Cities: Develop Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities (e.g., Patna, Lucknow) to reduce migration pressure on overcrowded metros.

Conclusion

Sustainable cities require more than just construction; they need empowered local governments, scientific management, and active citizen participation. Without structural reforms in accountability and planning, urban growth will continue to carry a heavy human cost.