Indian urban planning needs a major overhaul

A survey has cast fresh light on key reasons why our urban spaces are in such bad shape. We must empower municipal structures and turn them more responsive to people's needs

A survey by think-tank Janaagraha has revealed much of what ails urban planning in India. Despite the obvious pressures of rapid urbanization, it remains woefully shabby. Low levels of governance and fiscal autonomy, apart from sketchy information and weak public accountability, must be addressed for our urban spaces to get anywhere close to rich-world standards. By 2050, over 800 million people are expected to be living in our cities. We'll need robust municipal bodies to cope with the increased civic burden. Any shortfall in meeting a bare minimum of utility and sanitary needs would turn our vast urban sprawls into slums. Sadly, barring perhaps a few cities, most are very poorly run, with almost no attention paid to reforms that would empower local authorities to do what's needed.