Since 1947, India has reluctantly traversed the path of urbanisation, largely due to its predominantly agriculture-dependent rural population. In 1951, 17% of its population lived in cities.
Since 1947, India has reluctantly traversed the path of urbanisation, largely due to its predominantly agriculture-dependent rural population. In 1951, 17% of its population lived in cities. While the post-WW2 world experienced rapid urbanisation, India followed suit at a slower and more haphazard pace. Misguided attempts to combat urbanisation as undesirable hindered growth of efficiencies of agglomeration in the economy, compared to nations that urbanised rapidly and more cohesively.
There’s a clear correlation between urbanisation and income: higher the urbanisation rate, higher a country’s per-capita income. This relationship holds true even among states, as empirical evidence suggests.
Cities hold the promise of better education, healthcare, jobs and other opportunities, attracting a large influx of rural migrants. However, inadequate investment to accommodate migrants has led to significant informal development in most cities. This issue is further compounded by rigid and outdated planning and administrative norms. India is estimated to be about 36% urbanised, compared to a global average of around 57%, and an OECD average of about 80%. Even recently developed countries like South Korea have surpassed 80% urbanisation.
Recent projections by key policymakers suggest India could reach 50% urbanisation by 2047. However, this projection seems as misguided as past ones that have contributed to the inadequacies of cities. Setting a goal for two-thirds of the country to be urbanised by 2047 would be more reasonable for India, especially if it aims to achieve its other economic and social targets more easily.
To urbanise faster, these areas must come into focus:
Census towns Many such towns meet the definitional criteria for city governance, but still function as villages, with infrastructure planning and government services viewed through a rural lens. While these areas are included in urban population counts, they lack essential city infra. State governments must spearhead the establishment of municipal corporations or urban local bodies (ULBs) in these towns.
Simultaneously, there’s a need to reassess our urbanisation approach to unlock benefits of agglomeration. The next decade will witness the most significant increase in India’s urban population ever. With appropriate planning, it could enable India to overcome legacy issues faced by leading metropolises worldwide.
The suburban sprawl of the latter half of the 20th century is economically and environmentally unsustainable. Expanding cities displace agricultural, horticultural and industrial activities, diminishing natural reserves. Urban growth demands better connectivity and infrastructure, encroaching further into undisturbed natural areas beyond city limits.
Floor space index Higher FSI norms can facilitate vertical expansion, fostering the development of dense and compact cities. For instance, New York City has an FSI of 15, Singapore 25, and Tokyo 20. In contrast, New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Pune have FSIs in single digits. This sprawling urban development necessitates extensive trunk infrastructure development, including water, sewage, electricity lines and roads, as well as investment in social infrastructure.
Transport-oriented development Making cities more walkable, and accessible to cycle lanes and other non-motorised forms of transport, must be integral to this plan. The US model of urbanisation prioritised cars over people, resulting in more congestion, pollution, and a higher proportion of valuable land occupied by roads and parking spaces.
All newly built stock could be in the most desirable configuration, with land use and densities minimising mechanical mobility requirements, utilising freshwater more effectively, reusing grey water, optimising energy consumption and generation, being easier to maintain and, importantly, being more liveable from physical, social and experiential perspectives.
India can accelerate its economy by prioritising urbanisation, which would enhance its competitiveness in manufacturing and services, while also delivering higher standards of ecological and social responsibility to fortify the economy for the long term. This could be achieved by government providing overarching policy principles and schemes at the central level, while the states focus on capacity-building and ensuring swift and effective implementation of the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments (related to panchayats and municipalities, respectively). Improved devolution and broad-based fundraising through municipal bonds will ensure investments can keep pace with demand.
A clear policy with a prioritised, future-proofed roadmap would encourage broad-based investment in accelerating urbanisation, while strengthening economic and social development in the most capital-efficient and environmentally sustainable manner. Instead of resisting urbanisation, we must reinforce the efficiencies of agglomeration and embrace global best practices and latest technologies to make our cities environmentally friendly, disaster-resistant, economically resilient, safe and liveable. This will provide the economy with a source of sustainable competitive advantage.
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/epaper/delhicapital/2024/may/15/et-edit/urbanisation-and-growth-in-india/articleshow/110127269.cms
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