Cities must transform to gain from reform push

To realise the benefits of enhanced central government investment in urban infrastructure and service delivery since 2015, cities across India must reform their institutional and financial capacities through ten "instruments of change". This was the key recommendation of the "Annual Survey of India's City-Systems: Shaping India's Urban Agenda" (ASICS) by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy released on Tuesday.

- Shivani Singh

These instruments include constitutional amendments to empower cities, metropolitan governance, empowered mayorin-council, participatory governance, digital public finance management, municipal reforms, spatial development plans, etc. 

The ASICS report noted a 488% increase in the outlays to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Mohua)-from around 8,000 crore in 2009-10 to around 47,000 crore in 2021-22. There has been an increase in spending, particularly from 2015-2016 onwards, with the union government's introduction of several urban missions and schemes, Metro rail, and infrastructure projects. Additionally, there is funding under the 15th Finance Commission to the states.

"Yet, we are playing catch-up because urbanisation in India is outpacing these efforts, resulting in persisting or rising challenges in the quality of life," said the ASICS report, blaming the poor "urban governance or city-systems... that are invisible yet critical". As a remedy, it recommends "a twin track approach of projects and reforms" where the state governments take the leadership, with a rider cautioning against a "one-size-fits-all" approach to urbanisation.