Reforming Urban Governance in India: A Contemporary Perspective

Abstract

Introduction Urbanization worldwide has been found to be an effective engine of economic growth and sociocultural development. In pure economic terms, urbanization contributes significantly to the national economy. 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.