Table of Contents
Introduction
The Article published in the editorial section of The Hindu Newspaper talks about India’s growing urban population, which is expected to double from 400 million to 800 million in the next 30 years, creating a huge demand for better infrastructure like transport, housing, and basic services. The article explores these challenges and suggests solutions to build sustainable and well-planned cities for the future.
Article Explanation
India’s cities are growing quickly. Right now, 400 million people live in cities, but in the next 30 years, this will double to 800 million. To prepare for this, India needs to spend ₹70 lakh crore on things like transport, water, housing, and other urban services by 2036. But currently, the government is spending only ₹1.3 lakh crore every year, which is far less than the ₹4.6 lakh crore needed annually. Half of this money is required for basic services, and the other half is for transport systems like metros.
Problems India Faces in Urban Areas
City governments (called municipal bodies) don’t have enough money to meet their needs. They are supposed to provide nearly half of the funds for urban development, but their income from taxes and other sources is low. For example, Bengaluru and Jaipur collect only 5%-20% of the taxes they should. Across India, property tax collection is very poor, contributing just 0.15% of the total economy. This makes it hard for cities to pay for the services they need to provide.
Another problem is that cities are not using the money they already have. Around 23% of the funds meant for urban development remain unspent. Big cities like Hyderabad and Chennai only use half of their budgets. Even national programs like AMRUT and the Smart Cities Mission fail to use all their funds, with 70%-80% of the money being spent.
Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), which allow private companies to help build and fund city projects, are also declining. In 2012, PPP projects invested ₹8,353 crore, but by 2018, this dropped to just ₹467 crore. Private companies often avoid these projects because they don’t generate enough income or lack proper planning.
Urban services like water supply and transport also don’t make enough money to cover their costs. Cities charge users for these services, but this only covers 20%-50% of what it costs to provide them.
What Needs to Be Done:
The article suggests two ways to fix these problems: long-term reforms and medium-term actions.
In the long term, cities need more control over their money and better management skills. Municipal bodies should be given more power to collect and use funds. Private investment should also be encouraged, using tools like municipal bonds, which allow cities to borrow money.
In the medium term, cities need to plan projects better. India should aim for 600-800 well-planned projects each year to meet its development goals. Projects should be properly designed before asking for funding. Digital tools can also help manage city services better, making them more efficient. Transport projects like metros should be connected with housing and jobs, so people can live and work near transport hubs. This makes the projects more useful and valuable.
Conclusion:
India’s cities are growing fast, and action is needed now. By planning better, managing money well, and working with private companies, India can build modern, efficient, and sustainable cities. This will ensure a better future for everyone living in these urban areas.
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The Hindu Epaper Editorial Explanation given by Hello Student is only a supplementary reading to the original article to make things easier for the students.
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The Editorial Page of The Hindu is an essential reading for all the students aspiring for UPSC, SSC, PCS, Judiciary etc or any other competitive government exams.
This may also be useful for exams like CUET UG and CUET PG, GATE, GMAT, GRE AND CAT
To read this article in Hindi –https://bhaarat.hellostudent.co.in/