Ways In Which India Can Urbanise Faster
By 2025, India expects about 40 per cent of its population to be urban. Most of the infrastructure projects of the current government are aimed at readying the urban area to house this population. But, how can the government speed up the process?
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government launched several ambitious projects in its previous stint— the Smart Cities Mission, the Housing-for-all-by-2022 Mission, the Swachh Bharat Mission, etc. — and formulated crucial laws — the Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act, 2016, the goods and services tax act, etc. — that are expected to change the urban landscape. While there is no questioning the virtues of all these programmes, authorities must ensure these programmes are implemented within stipulated timelines to ensure a faster urbanisation process. Crossing deadlines have been a perpetual problem that government programmes face.
Internet can help with the urbanisation process
The internet has the capacity to change the world. When it comes to the urbanisation process, however, this tool has yet to be used effectively. Why? It is mostly a one-way lane so far. A large number of India’s urban population uses the internet to express their dissatisfaction with the government processes. However, there is hardly any response when the government asks for public opinions and participation for some of its programmes. Using the internet in the government machinery effectively will be the key to faster urbanisation.
Rural India has to play its role in urbanisation
Contradictory as it may sound, urban India would need the help of rural India to grow bigger in the future. It will be the rural areas that will make way for the urban landscapes of the future. Think of say, Noida, 20 years earlier. The happening IT town in the national capital region (NCR) was only a cluster of villages. Gurgaon, too, was not any different. Their present success shows their willingness to embrace urbanisation. Also, it is rural India that will help urban India meet its daily needs of food, etc. For a sustainable urban India, rural India will have to extend greater support in future.
Make land acquisition for infra projects more equitable
Most of the issues arise when decisions are taken without taking all parties on board. When authorities, say, plan an airport in some remote area, farmers often refuse to sell their land. Their reluctance would later see government plans falling apart. Now, while it is practically not possible to take everyone on board at the planning stage, involving people whose lives are going to be affected by a certain plan may be a great idea.