Urban Infrastructure Strategy for India
Introduction
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs emphasizes the improvement of quality of life through various missions, as part of the vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.
Challenges and Recommendations
- The absence of an integrated long-term urban investment and strategy framework could lead to fragmented planning and resource allocation issues.
- A Parliamentary Standing Committee recommends forming a High-Level Expert Committee to assess urban infrastructure needs and governance reforms up to 2047.
Existing Programs and Their Impact
- Current initiatives like AMRUT 2.0, SBM-U 2.0, PMAY-U 2.0, Metro Rail projects, and PM e-Bus Seva are enhancing urban life quality.
- These programs are identified as scheme-driven and largely sector-specific by the committee.
Previous Assessments and Future Needs
- A 2011 High Powered Expert Committee (HPEC) report projected urban trends only until 2031.
- The report indicated that 75% of Indians are expected to live in cities by 2030.
- No updated national evaluation exists for urban demands beyond 2030.
Conclusion
A new expert committee is recommended to establish an evidence-based roadmap for urban development up to 2047. This aims to ensure coordinated planning and balanced growth across metropolitan, Tier-II, and Tier-III cities.
