NEW DELHI – A recent analysis of India’s urban centers reveals a shared and critical flaw: cities are collapsing under the weight of outdated infrastructure and static master plans that fail to account for a dynamic environment. From bustling metropolises to carefully planned modernist cities, the report argues that India’s urban areas have outgrown their own governance and are now highly vulnerable to climate change and modern ambitions.
The report points to several key examples of this urban decline:
• Hyderabad, once known for its intricate water management systems, now experiences regular and severe flooding.
• Shimla, a hill station never designed for large-scale year-round habitation, is “collapsing under modern ambitions built on colonial bones.”
• Even Chandigarh, a masterclass in rational urbanism by architect Le Corbusier, is struggling. Its legendary grid and stormwater systems are no match for today’s “impermeable sprawl and erratic monsoons,” a testament to how even iconic designs must evolve to remain relevant.
The core problem, according to the report, is a reliance on master plans that are treated as “sacred text” even when their underlying assumptions like population projections and economic trends are no longer valid. The result is that infrastructure, from flyovers to drainage systems, “ages before its time” due to a fundamental neglect of maintenance and adaptation.
To combat this decline, the report recommends a shift in approach. Instead of focusing solely on building new infrastructure, India must adopt new habits, including:
• Regular Urban Audits: Comprehensive audits should be institutionalized and conducted at least every decade. These audits must not only assess the physical health of a city’s systems but also re-evaluate the planning assumptions they were based on.
• Integrated Resilience: The report highlights global examples like Copenhagen and Singapore, which have integrated resilience into their urban fabric through green roofs, permeable surfaces, and transit-oriented development. While acknowledging that India cannot simply “copy-paste” these solutions due to its unique social structures and population density, the report urges a return to local traditions like ancient water harvesting systems and vernacular design.
• A Shift in Mindset: Ultimately, urban resilience in India will not be defined by the scale of its construction or the number of sensors it installs. It will be determined by whether cities can “pause, reflect, and respond to change intellectually, institutionally, and spatially.” The most enduring cities, the report concludes, will be those that continue to function well over time, not just those that are impressive on inauguration day.