Challenges Faced by Indian Cities

1. On 31^st October 2024, World Cities Day was celebrated to emphasize the importance of international cooperation in promoting sustainable urbanization and addressing its associated challenges.

1. Theme of World Cities Day 2024: ‘Youth Climate Changemakers: Catalysing Local Action for Urban Sustainability’.
2. In 2013, the United Nations General Assembly officially designated October 31 as World Cities Day. It was 1^st celebrated in 2014 in response to the growing challenges of rapid urbanization. 

1. The global urban population has reached approximately 4.7 billion, constituting 57.5% of the total population and is expected to double by 2050.

1. The United Nations forecasts that the urban population will likely rise to 68% by 2050. 

Key Urban Challenges Globally

1. Climate Change Impact: Cities face severe environmental challenges, particularly from climate change.
2. Sustainable Development Progress: Despite efforts toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), cities struggle with poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.

1. World Cities Day aligns with the UN’s SDG 11: “Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.”

1. Intensified Challenges in the Global South: Rapid urbanization with limited resources has led to housing shortages, poor sanitation and clean water access, vulnerability to climate-related events.

India’s Unique Urbanization Path

1. In Western countries, urbanization followed industrialization, which created jobs that absorbed rural labour. Their urbanization was sustained also because of massive economic transfers from colonies.
2. In contrast, India’s urbanization is largely driven by economic distress, resulting in “poverty-driven urbanization,” with both rural-to-urban and urban-to-urban migration.

1. Poverty-driven urbanization is a phenomenon where people migrate from rural areas to urban areas due to poverty and the lack of economic opportunities in their hometowns, which can lead to urban poverty.

1. COVID-19 highlighted gaps in urban infrastructure, as reverse migration exposed urban planning deficiencies.

Urban Challenges in India

1. Data Limitations: Without the 2021 Census, precise data on India’s urban population is lacking. World Bank estimates suggesting about 40% of the population lives in urban areas across 9,000 towns.
2. Spatial Planning Deficits: Spatial and temporal plans are often outdated and fail to accommodate the current population growth.

1. Since the 1980s, cities like Ahmedabad, Delhi, Surat, and Mumbai saw job losses, leading displaced workers to peri-urban areas with overcrowded conditions. Currently, 40% of India’s urban population lives in slums.
2. A peri-urban area is the region located on the outskirts of a city, where urban and rural features blend. It’s a transitional zone with mixed land use, including residential, agricultural, and industrial areas.
3. Peri-urban areas often experience rapid development and population growth as cities expand, but they may lack the infrastructure and services found in urban centers.

1. Focus on Capital over Community: Town Plans often prioritize capital growth over resident needs, leading to a lack of local ownership and engagement in the planning process.
2. Climate Change and Environmental Stress: Cities face severe pollution and are increasingly subject to urban flooding and “heat island effects.”

1. As per the 6^th World Air Quality Report , released in March 2024, 9 of the world’s top 10 most polluted cities are in India. Delhi is the most polluted capital city worldwide for the 4^th consecutive year.
2. Begusarai in Bihar holds the title of the world’s most polluted metropolitan area, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 119 µg/m³.
3. Over 66% of Indian cities have annual PM2.5 averages above 35 µg/m³. PM2.5 pollution from fossil fuel burning is associated with increased heart attacks, strokes, and oxidative stress, leading to serious health problems.

1. Growing Inequality and Social Segregation: Urbanization was once believed to be neutral regarding social and religious dynamics, but Indian cities are increasingly segregated along these lines.

1. Rising Inequality: Exclusive housing developments cater to the wealthy, while millions lack basic housing.
2. Example: Gurugram’s “The Dahlias” project offers apartments starting at ₹100 crore, contrasting sharply with the two crore urban Indians without shelter.
3. Informal Sector Employment: Around 90% of urban jobs are informal, with poor working conditions and no job security.

1. Governance and Local Control Limitations: Despite the 74^th Constitutional Amendment, most Indian cities remain controlled by undemocratic bodies.

1. Limited Local Authority: Elected representatives rarely oversee urban planning, which is often managed by parastatals or private entities.
2. Limited Transfer of Functions: Out of 18 functions listed in the 12^th Schedule, less than three have been fully transferred to urban governments. Additionally, cities receive only 0.5% of GDP through intergovernmental transfers.

Key Strategies for Urban Transformation under the Union Budget 2024-25

1. Urban Housing: Allocation for 3 crore new houses under PM Awas Yojana (PMAY) benefits both urban and rural areas, with a special focus on 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families.
2. Rental Housing: Emphasis on dormitory-style accommodations for industrial workers, facilitated through public-private partnerships.
3. Transit-Oriented Development: Plans for 14 large cities with populations above 30 Lakh to enhance public transport and urban infrastructure, improving connectivity and accessibility.
4. Water and Sanitation: Initiatives for water supply and waste management will target 100 major cities, aiming to improve urban hygiene and resource availability.
5. National Urban Digital Mission: Digitization of property and tax records will enable urban local bodies to manage financial resources more efficiently.
6. Sustainable Development: Support for renewable energy projects and climate-resilient infrastructure like electric public transport and green spaces to foster sustainable urban environments.