Urban governance in India

Abstract

The pace and growth of urbanization in India poses enormous challenges to urban governance. This article examines the institutional features and devolution mechanisms of the federal framework within which cities have to deliver better quality of life for their residents and generate an investment climate that is capable of sustaining the rapid growth. It argues that though planned urbanization is needed for the industry and services sectors and also for rural rejuvenation, the lack of empowerment of cities is constraining their ability to translate the urban development agenda into action. The article emphasizes the importance of bridging the urban infrastructure deficit and argues that institutional reforms are crucial for reaching out to the private sector for sharing the financing burden and ensuring that it results in improved service delivery. The experience of a pioneering national mission for urban renewal and the design of new national missions are reviewed to highlight the importance of strengthening reforms and capacity for planning and management at the local level. Though the Government of India will have to provide strategic leadership, some funding, and assistance in building capacity for urban planning and management, state governments will be the principal players in creating an environment in which city governments can discharge the responsibilities assigned to them by the constitution.

Trends in urban land expansion, density, and land transitions from 1970 to 2010: a global synthesis

“…High rates of urban expansion around the world have been shown to lead to the loss of agricultural lands [4,5], reduce wildlife habitat [6,7], and alter regional hydrology and climate [8][9][10]. The speed of growth of urban areas around the world, but especially in developing countries, also stretches the capacity of local and regional governments and institutions to provide sufficient infrastructure and services for their residents [11][12][13]. These impacts of urbanization are related to the spatial extent and density of urban areas [14,15].…”

A Roadmap on the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Among People Living With Diabetes

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New urban governance: A review of current themes and future priorities

“…The case of India, where the lack of autonomy and authority is restricting the ability of cities to deal with the swift urban growth, is a prime example (arguably, as is the United States; Frug & Barron, 2008). In India there is a palpable "anti-urban" bias in the federal political system where state governments yield a disproportionate amount of power (Ahluwalia, 2017). Despite an (ineffectual) constitutional amendment that instructed state governments to transfer a set of specified functions to local governments, the only way out of this governance gridlock seems to be establishing a direct link between the federal government of India and local governments, bypassing-or at least bridging-state governments.…”