New Delhi: A recent Janaagraha report has revealed that India's urban footprint has expanded by 2.5 million hectares between 2005-06 and 2022-23, with 723 million people projected to live in urban India by 2050.
The report highlights a dichotomy between growth and liveability, with smaller cities offering cleaner air and open spaces but struggling to provide opportunities for youth.
It warns that the economic potential of urban areas is being stifled by systemic governance failure, with 29 agencies overseeing 11 core urban functions.
The report proposes five 'Big Shifts' to address the issue, including a National Mission for Urban Roads, City Action Plans, and the building of city-level data systems.
It also notes that India is home to 35 of the world's 50 most polluted cities, with long-term exposure to PM2.5 air pollution estimated to reduce life expectancy by 8.2 years in Delhi.
The report concludes that the current funding has often treated symptoms rather than causes, and that cities are 'governing blind' without granular data.
