The India Infrastructure Report 2023 on Urban Planning and Development was released on 4 December 2023 by Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, former Vice-President of India, who served as the Chief Guest along with Mr. Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India and former CEO, NITI Aayog.

The India Infrastructure Report 2023 has been a collaborative effort of the IDFC Foundation, Infrastructure Development Corporation (Karnataka) Ltd. (iDeCK) and the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). The report is a significant milestone in the acclaimed India Infrastructure Report (IIR) series, initiated by the IDFC Foundation in 2001.

Former Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu remarked that urban planning is an essential component of nation-building and an integral element in growth. Shri Naidu further said that sustainable all-round development is the only way forward as Bharat moves rapidly along the path of accelerated development. He made these observations on the occasion of the virtual release of the India Infrastructure Report (IIR 2023).

The former Vice President of India described planning, including providing a vision for urban development as the cornerstone of growth. He pointed out that the report covered a wide range of various complex issues related to urban planning and development. He added, “Importantly, it also provides solutions to make Indian cities sustainable. As all of us know sustainability is not just a buzzword, it is the need of the hour if we are to save this planet from complete destruction,” he said.

He describe the report as a compendium of knowledge, expertise and experience. He observed that it contained 25 well-researched papers, meticulously written by learned authors with long years of experience in the urban planning sector.

A feature of the report, which merited the attention of planners and policy-makers, is the road map laid out in it on how to improve the existing cities through urban redevelopment, Shri Naidu said. He added that it also outlines ways to plan Greenfield cities, and implement them on the ground efficiently as well. The underlying purpose of the report is to provide better urban development in the region as well as provide a key link with neighbouring states, the former Vice President of India remarked.

Shri Naidu referred to key aspects of IIR 2023 such as Planning and Governance, Smart Initiatives, PPPs and Financing, Housing and Migration, Public Service Delivery, Integrating Infrastructure, and Urban Redevelopment. The former Vice President of India also referred to highlights in the report such as the transformative role of digital technology in shaping India’s urban landscape, focusing on ‘Smart Cities,’ and performance criteria, examination of financial dimensions, emphasizing public-private partnerships, financial sustainability of urban bodies, and the efficacy of municipal bonds. He said planners should take a close look at some of the key components of effective urban governance such as transit-oriented development, efficient urban goods movement, and regulation of floor space and land prices.

Speaking from his own experience as former Union Minister for Urban Development, Shri Naidu recalled that previous IIRs had always been sources of great information and that our planners and decision makers had always found them to be extremely useful. IIRs have played a key role in our national development, he added.

Shri Naidu observed that the India Infrastructure Report (IIR 2023) will also give a fillip to the inclusive socio-economic development in the state and help in the all-round development of the nation. “Importantly, it will further aid in powering growth and help Bharat to become one of the top three largest economies in the world,” he added. Shri Naidu described IIR 2023 as a comprehensive report highlighting the needs and the existing gaps, and providing solutions for moving forward on the path of accelerated development.

Shri Amitabh Kant, Sherpa, G-20, Dr. M. Ramachandran, Chairman IDFC Foundation and former Secretary Urban Development, Dr. O.P. Agarwal, Distinguished Fellow Niti Aayog and Chairman, Apex Committee of India Infrastructure Report 2023, and Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director (Additional Charge)-National Institute of Urban Affairs also spoke on the occasion.

In her welcome address, Dr. Debolina Kundu stated, “This report is more than a compilation of data & statistics—it's a roadmap for our urban future, reflecting our shared vision of sustainable development."

Shri Amitabh Kant emphasised the role of ‘scientific master planning’ to captivate the benefits of sustainable urbanisation; importance of ‘mass transit system’ to minimise the environmental impact; the dynamic nature of city building and the necessity to increase carrying capacity in tandem with their growth.

Dr M Ramachandran, speaking on the occasion hoped that while on the one hand this IIR 2023 will be a valuable source on our urbanization status and areas in which lot of work has been done, on the other, this impressive publication with a wealth of knowledge and experience behind it will help generate ideas about what more needs to be done. He tabled the following points for consideration:

• With the smart cities mission coming to an end in the coming year, ideally we could have another such mission for the next level of cities say, the one lakh plus population cities and towns. Suggest roping in corporates to adopt five or ten such cities each.
• There could be a central scheme to take up credit rating process of all such cities and towns, which process should also include suggesting action relevant in the local context to tap new sources of revenue.
• It is time we lay down that each city should work out certain minimum standards of performance and delivery covering all those fundamental aspects, which are relevant for a city resident, and report to the citizens on an annual basis as to what improvements have been brought about.

Dr. O.P. Agarwal provided a comprehensive overview to the audience, stressing on cities’ commitment on climate action, underscoring the key role of cities as our economy grows, and emphasising the need for their sustainable growth.

The participants included Mr. S. P. Singh (Additional Secretary-Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Vice President NIUA) and experts from Smart Cities Mission, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund India (UNICEF), United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), UN-Habitat India, The World Bank, RTI International and Global Future Cities Programme FCDO, among others.

 

About IIR 2023

The India Infrastructure Report (IIR) 2023 contains 25 chapters by prominent names in the urban development and policy ecosystem on the current state of urban development in India.

This annual publication has been instrumental in identifying and analyzing legal, fiscal, regulatory, technological, social, and conceptual aspects related to contemporary themes relevant to infrastructure development. This makes it an invaluable resource for those involved in formulating urban policy, as well as for those interested in the development of India's infrastructure and urbanization, such as policy makers, investors, academics, financiers, and multilateral agencies.

 

Key Highlights of the India Infrastructure Report 2023:

 

• Spotlight on the transformative potential of digital technology in shaping the urban landscape of India. Focus areas include the concept of ‘smart cities’ and the significance of performance ranking criteria.
• Examination of financial dimensions of urban development, with a special emphasis on public-private partnerships (PPPs), the financial sustainability of urban local bodies, and the efficacy of municipal bonds as potent financing instruments.
• Urban transportation planning and urban redevelopment as pivotal components of effective urban governance through transit-oriented development, efficient urban goods movement, and floor space and land price regulation in India.

 

IDFC

IDFC Foundation is a not-for-profit institution, working on philanthropic initiatives in social infrastructure. As part of its development agenda, IDFC Foundation also carries out focussed research, policy advocacy and capacity building across the spectrum of infrastructure sectors. It has, in the past, brought out various publications and research papers, which provide the platform for ushering in fresh perspectives and frameworks for infrastructure development in the Indian context. For more information see: www.idfcfoundation.com

 

About iDeCK

IDeCK, established in 2000 as a joint venture of the Government of Karnataka, IDFC Foundation and HDFC. iDeCK focusses on catalysing well-planned, sustainable infrastructure projects, especially through public-private participation. From its inception, iDeCK has accumulated a rich and diverse experience across infrastructure sectors through its active engagement in the development of over 800 projects in the country and abroad. The IDFC Foundation and the ICAP Trust, have been utilizing the expertise resident within iDeCK in pursuit of research and capacity building activities. For more information see: https://www.ideck.in/

 

About NIUA

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