Healthy Cities

Nearly one-third of India’s urban population live in slums, informal settings or sidewalk tents, which are characterised by overcrowding, poor hygiene, sanitation, absence of proper civic services and fuelled by basic health infrastructure and healthcare service delivery. 

Main issues that require attention if health services for the urban poor are to be improved and made more accessible are while inadequate health facilities maybe partly responsible for the poor health status of slum dwellers the answer does not lie in simply providing more services. Although it is extremely important to invest in more services like reorienting and sensitising doctors, additional beds in government hospitals, well equipped dispensaries and maternity clinics near slums and settlements inhabited by the poorer sections; focus needs to be on accepting and understanding that although medical facilities for the urban poor are both inadequate and the poor have limited access, the poor can avail of the same in cities that are not available to them in the villages; and a demand for such services must be identified and this demand must be fulfilled keeping in mind the felt needs of the poor.

Optimal urban governance helps the health sector, in promoting and planning for hygienic living conditions; building inclusive cities that are accessible and making cities resilient to emergencies like epidemics. A synergy between the urban local bodies, state and central government is needed to engage on quality research to generate and systematise knowledge to address many existing information gaps. 

The inequities of health disaggregated by intra-urban area; the effectiveness of proactive approaches to deal with health inequity in cities; and the importance of involving all citizens in the decisions that affect their habitat and their health is crucial. Also, it is imperative to maintain this momentum of creating clean, green and healthy cities to live in. 

Urban health advocates should identify successful models to be shared as menus of policy options and models of good practice. Improvement in public health infrastructure, schemes for reaching out to the urban poor, facilitation of development of community’s negotiation capacity for increasing demand for maternal and child health services and improved access to health care are necessary. It is therefore imperative that urban health receives due attention and is accompanied by coordinated actions from all stakeholders and more importantly, a strong political commitment for addressing the growing problems of the urban poor.

Urban Planning: Indian Cities Can Learn from Smart Cities Like Copenhagen and Barcelona

Urbanization is growing rapidly across the world. In a vast and diverse country like India, decisions related to city expansion, transportation systems, housing, green spaces, waste management, and infrastructure directly affect the lives of millions of people. In such a scenario, transparent urban planning is not only a sign of administrative efficiency but also a bridge of trust between citizens and the government. Transparent urban planning forms the foundation of any successful modern city. When citizens clearly see that development-related decisions in their city are taken in an open, evidence- based, and participatory manner, their trust in governance becomes stronger. Transparency involves the analysis of various components, best practices, public feedback, behavioral changes, motivating factors, possible outcomes, and expected achievements. It helps reduce public concerns and strengthens confidence in the administration.

Shared decision-making ensures that urban plans are aligned with the real needs of the people. Transparency also reduces corruption, as open data and public discussions minimize irregularities. Fair and equitable distribution of resources ensures that the benefits of development reach all sections of society. 

Citizen participation plays a crucial role in transparent urban planning. Through public consultations, community meetings, digital platforms, and social media, citizens can express their opinions and suggestions. When their views are incorporated into urban plans, people feel a sense of ownership toward their city. Making background documents, timelines, and progress reports publicly available increases the  accountability of administrators and planners. Citizens can see whether governments are fulfilling their commitments and adhering to deadlines, which further enhances credibility and trust.  Transparency also reduces conflicts and misunderstandings. Urban projects often become controversial due to misinformation and rumors. Open communication and transparent processes help eliminate confusion and encourage constructive dialogue. 

When people feel that they are active stakeholders in the development of their city, a sense of community ownership emerges. This contributes significantly to social harmony and trust-building. Transparent planning processes also create long-term partnerships among citizens, local governments, private organizations, and civil  society, making cities more sustainable and resilient.

Several global cities provide inspiring examples of transparent urban planning. Singapore’s integrated master plans, digital twin technology, and open-data systems give citizens a clear understanding of how the city is evolving. In Copenhagen, Denmark, community participation is encouraged at every stage- from the development of cycling infrastructure to the planning of green spaces-which has resulted in a very high level of public trust. Barcelona, Spain, has developed a smart city open-data platform that provides citizens with detailed information about every urban project. 

Indian cities can learn valuable lessons from these models, particularly in terms of open access to data and involving citizens in the decision-making process. In India, initiatives such as the Smart Cities Mission and Integrated Command and Control Centres have created online platforms for citizens. However, there is still a need to strengthen public participation and improve the accessibility of urban data. Transparent urban planning offers several longterm benefits, including the creation of a trustbased society, improved delivery of urban services, reduced corruption, efficient use of resources, and the development of more sustainable and livable cities. It also promotes inclusive and citizen-friendly development. 

Transparency is not merely an administrative value; it is a democratic strength. A city becomes stronger, more reliable, and more sustainable when citizens are included in planning and decision-making processes, when data is openly accessible, and when policies and projects are clearly communicated. When information is openly shared, decisions are transparent, and citizens actively participate in the planning process, cities become stronger not only structurally but also socially. Trust, cooperation, and accountability are the three pillars that can make cities more capable, resilient, and future-ready.

LAND GRABBING AND ENCROACHMENTS : SERIOUS ISSUE

Land-grabbing and encroachment has been a major concern for the government. Talking tough on the incidents of land grabbing, Hon'bleSupreme Court of India has cautioned the judiciary to be careful in granting title to the claimants on ground of adverse possession of such land. The court also took note of the connivance of land grabbers with the authorities to raise illegal constructions and regularisation of their illegalpossession. Hon'ble Apex Court observed"No amount of vigil can stoр encroachments and unauthorised occupation of public land by unscrupulous elements, who act like vultures to grab such land, raise illega 1 construction s and, at times, succeeded in manipulating the state apparatus for getting their occupation/possession and construction regularised.It is our considered view that where an encroacher, illegal occupant or land grabber of public property raises a plea that he has perfected title by adverse possession, the court is duty bound to act with greater seriousness, care and circumspection. Any laxity in this regard may result in destruction of right/title of the state to immovable property and give upper hand to the encroachers, unauthorised occupants or land grabbers."

Experts on the revenue law and administration are sceptical whether the government would be able to deal with the land-grabbing menace properly. Our existing law is not tough enough to deal with landgrabbers. It's high time the government should enact a stringent law to deal with land encroachment. According to revenue law experts from the State of Odishathe existing Orissa Prevention of Land Encroachment Act, 1972, lacks teeth to effectively deal with encroachment. The law deals with the government land only, and the revenue and civil courts can only evict an encroacher. Under the law encroachment is a not a cognizable offence punishable under the law and the courts do not have criminal powers.This situation looks to have become the main source Ο f corruption of corrupt practices on part of the Estate/Land Wings. In addition, big pieces of lands, which may include compact blocks, under the possession of various departments not being used for the purposes for which it was given to them and later taken over /grabbed by unscrupulous persons and the departments cannot get physical retrieval in their favour. This fact becomes more important and rather painful when the government itself proceeds to acquire private lands/properties for public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act, after making payments of heavy amounts to the property-owners/occupiers in terms of compensation.

This state of affairs is very alarming which warrants special attention of the concerned authorities. In this connection, a vigorous campaign also needs to be launched against the mafia irrespective of their status or political affiliations. The government should also make out a sustainable policy underlying a methodology as how to get the state land back from these encroachers. It may also be plausible to invoke lodging complaints in the respective courts for their dispossession, in addition to other criminal proceedings as provided under the law for the actions. After having inflicted convictions/punishments upon such offenders by the courts, the lands could be retrieved through a legal process under the Court orders. Itis noteworthy that habitual offenders in this arena occasionally prefer to indulge in the protracted litigation by instituting frivolous cases/suits, with intent to procure status-quo or stay orders from the courts. Once they succeed to obtain a stay order, they always try to linger on those cases for years on flimsy grounds. District collectors or sub-divisions are vested with certain powers to eject the trespassers and squatters with punishment/imprisonment, to be awarded by the magistrate.

More importantly, concerted efforts and effective strategy need to be adopted for the preservation of the remaining lands from the reach of unscrupulous elements having ill designs and ulterior motives. It is relevant to mention here that such illegal occupations are quite impossible to happen without the connivance of the lower functionaries under the aegis of their high-ups, with an obvious purpose of indulging in corruption or corrupt purposes to satisfy their ill designs and, in certain cases, under the directions of their political masters. Appeasement has no place in upholding Law. Public demonstration and succumbing to the illegal demand on local sentiments brings inconsistency to the law on the subject and parallelly strengthens the manipulators in the state apparatus for dealingthe individual cases as per the requirements /consideration leading to corrupt practices.Apart from above, if the competent authorities reach at a conclusion that the criminal action, in terms of their forcible dispossession, or removal of encroachments, including that of the old structures/constructions existing thereon, is not to be initiated, owing to certain ground-realities i.e. dislodging of poor and shelter-less families or likelihood of erupting any law & order situation, a workable plan/policy duly backed by the legal framework should alternatively be devised to dispose of such pieces of state lands at the market rates or through open auctions, the first right to be given to the actual encroachers.Though this action need discouragement still in extreme conditions it will, no doubt, legalise their possession by giving them proprietary rights on one hand and deposit of heavy amounts to the government exchequer on the other.

Housing and occupational needs are key factors for rising cases of land encroachment in urban areas. Urban slums are the best example to show that how urban poor are fulfilling their housing needs by encroachment in areas which are vulnerable for health and life.One thing to be noticed with serious concern is that there exists no credible data/record as to the available state lands with the concerned departments at the district or provincial level, with exactitude, and the extent of pieces of lands under unauthorised occupation. With the change of manual systems to that of computerisation of land records, this aspect has been changed. There seems to be marginal gaps in between the available record and the ground situations. A detailed survey with special reference to urban areas is, therefore, required to be carried out on war-footing so that the state property could be protected for its best utilisation. At a time when the country is passing through an upheaval, there is a real need to either retrieve the state properties for better utilisation in the years to come or to procure maximum monetary benefits in terms of earning heavy revenue into the government treasury. The cases under litigation must be sorted out with a deep eye towards uncalled for stay orders issued by various courts, without leaving this work at the mercy of lower formation or the state counsels.

Now-a-days it is a burning issue and the authorities particularly in Delhi NCR are taking action against the land-grabbing and encroachment. Demolition and Sealing of illegal structures and other actions are being initiated. One thing to be noticed with serious concern is that there exists no credible data/record as to the available state lands with the concerned departments at the district or provincial level, with exactitude, and the extent of pieces of lands under unauthorised occupation. With the change of manual systems to that of computerisation of land records, this aspect has been changed. There seems to be marginal gaps in between the available record and the ground situations. A detailed survey with special reference to urban areas is, therefore, required to be carried out on war-footing so that the state property could be protected for its best utilisation. At a time when the country is passing through an upheaval, there is a real need to either retrieve the state properties for better utilisation in the years to come or to procure maximum monetary benefits in terms of earning heavy revenue into the government treasury. The cases under litigation must be sorted out with a deep eye towards uncalled for stay orders issued by various courts, without leaving this work at the mercy of lower formation or the state counsels. 

(Source: AMDA News Bulletien)

URBAN LOCAL BODIES - THE FINANCIAL HEALTH

Census documents states that the Urban Population in India had reached 38 crore in 2011. The present trend makes it to reach 47 crore by the census 2021. It has cast upon the need for manifold infrastructural development to cope with the situation of rapid urbanisation in India. With the increasing industrialization and urbanization under the impetus of development and planning, the local authorities form a growing part of the expanding public sector with powers to raise and spend considerable amounts of public funds for development purpose. Local authorities form an important segment of public sector in India. The contribution of the local bodies' income in general and capital formation is of considerable signiicance, in view of their large number and the area with population they cover.

The inancial health of urban local bodies (ULBs) in India is not encouraging. The functions and inances of urban local governments are provided through the Acts passed by the state legislatures and any mismatch or discrepancy between the two is likely to create abnormal condition affecting the development programmes in the urban areas. If we look into the receipts side of inancial resources of urban local bodies generally we ind that adequate revenue do not reach the coffers of the ULBs. There may be many reason suggested by different group of people or researchers from prestigious institutions but it is true that the resources are scarce and unable to meet the expenditure requirements. The local bodies always depend on other two upper tiers of government viz the State Govt. as well as the Union Government for grants and loans for their activities.

The signiicance of inance is too obvious to need any elaboration as no organisation can exist, much less achieve its objectives without at least a minimum of inances. Kautilya, the great philosopher in his compilation “ARTHSHASTRA “has remarked that all undertakings depend upon inance, hence foremost attention should be paid to the treasury. All administrative acts have its inancial implications, either creating a charge or making a contribution to treasury. In fact, inance constitutes the backbone, the life and blood of government; it provides fuel to the administrative machinery. Sound iscal policy is needed and the imprudent inancial management not only brings discredit to the government but also alienates it from the people as well as endanger the existence of the governance.

Financial management differs from inancial administration. Finance Management is provided by the statute and emanates from the law of the land whereas; the inancial administration is carried out through  rules   and regulations made by the state under the authority provided to the state to make rules. The inancial sector is the centre of economic activity and its health affects the entire economy. Municipal governments are directly linked with the availdability and utilization of inancial resources to extend citizen centric services as well as infrastructure for the constituents of the city. Financial administration is to act scientiically in planning, organizing, implementing and evaluating the inancial resources to ensure their best use for the achievement of the objectives, goals and the targets. We in the irst sight conclude that the urban local bodies in India are confronted with lack of proper decentralization of functions and inances, inadequate revenue generation, expenditure shortfalls leading to poor service delivery.

The revenue available to local governments is a key determinant of a city's ability to provide the services citizens need and to meet other expenditure requirements. In cases where revenue is constrained, infrastructure investments often suffer, and government services are reduced as well as the payments towards establishment are deferred. Simultaneously, the need to diversify, grow, and mobilize revenues is one of the most pressing challenges, the city leaders (Municipal authorities) face in various regions of the developed and developing area of the city. Building a solid revenue base depends on a number of factors, including empowering city leaders to grow and diversify their own-source revenue pool to complement external revenue lows (e.g., inter governmental transfers) over which local government oficials lack direct control.

As per the convention the municipal receipts and resources rest on Tax as well as non tax revenues. The tax revenues comprises mainly of Property tax, Profession tax, Sanitation/Conservancy Tax, Scavenging tax, Drainage tax, Education tax, Entry/Terminal tax, Taxes on vehicles, Advertisement tax, Entertainment tax, Pilgrim tax, Environment tax/Land Revenue, Development tax, Passengers & Goods Tax, Timber tax, Tax/toll on animals, Cable Operator Tax, Toll/Tax on bridges/Vehicles and the Octroi besides the other regional or city speciic tax enacted in the municipal council. The evasion of the tax revenue is very much prevalent in India and the municipal bodies ind it hard to impose punishment except to levy the interest on delayed payments. This tax coupled with interest is normally not paid by the citizens for several years. The conclusion remains as the adverse affect on the developmental works. The Property Tax is the biggest and important tax of revenue generation. The municipal authorities need to improve the assessment component, stressing upon mapping of properties using the Geographic Information System (GIS), making the system capable of self-assessment, rationalizing exemptions and improve collections. For the purpose property surveys and usage of GIS technology should be a complete package to ensure full coverage of the properties, Computerization of property taxes, regular revision of rates, more user friendly tax system and making tax enforcement a priority for improving the inancial health of the municipal bodies.

To mobilize non-tax revenues it is the need to establish a strong foundation for iscal governance. It focuses on a wide variety of non-tax revenues, ranging from charges and fees directly related to citizens' use of a service. The overview of the various sources and types of non-tax including own-source revenues used by municipal bodies may be seen in the levies which comprises mainly of Sanitation/ Conservancy Charges, Water charges, Surcharge on Sales Tax, Birth/Death Registration fees, Betterment fees, Mutation fees, Dangerous and Offensive Trade License Fees, Slaughter house fees, Market fee, Fee for ire services, Fees on dogs, Fees for Registration of animals etc., Parking fees, Fee on building application, Duty on transfer of immovable property, Penalty for late tax payment, Stamp Duty, Rent from Municipal Properties, Receipts from Fines, Receipts from Interest etc. This needs a combination of all municipal revenue sources tax as well as non-tax are important for achieving strong municipal inancial health. This is possible when the oficials who seek to evolve and reform the non-tax own-source revenue components within their jurisdiction. The aim is to highlight the merit of empowering city leaders with strategies that help them harness non-tax own-source revenues appropriately for the maximum beneit of their municipalities. 

We easily visualise from the compositions of revenues among the ULBs that expenditures in general fall short of their requirements. Most of the cities generate revenues much lower than their requirements and the appropriation of revenues are also not uniform. Further, the state grants transferred to the municipal bodies are also not used for the purpose they are granted. We also leg behind in assessing relation between size of the city and the quality of management. The performance in revenue generation and expenditure management is at the core of good performance and governance. Good municipal resource generation, utilization and management can bring about  a huge change in the inancial health of municipal body.

(Source: AMDA News Bulletien)

13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum - Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures

 India is hosting the 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum on 11–12 June 2026 in New Delhi.

The Forum is a key ministerial event under India’s BRICS Chairship in 2026, guided by the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Humanity First’ and the Chairship theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’.

 

The Urbanisation Forum will be held under the theme ‘Cities for People: BRICS Cooperation for Inclusive and Resilient Urban Futures’. Speaking at the press conference, the Union Minister said that the theme reflects India’s approach which gives centrality to people in the planning, governance, and development of cities.

 

India’s Legacy and Continued Leadership

The BRICS Urbanisation Forum was first hosted by India in New Delhi in 2013, formally placing urbanisation on the BRICS cooperation agenda. India again hosted the Forum in 2016 at Visakhapatnam, with a focus on sustainable urban development, smart cities and urban resilience. India hosted the Forum virtually, again in 2021, focusing on urban recovery in the aftermath of the global pandemic.

 

With the 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum in 2026, India is hosting the Forum for the fourth time. Since its inception, the Forum has served as the dedicated ministerial platform for BRICS countries to exchange urban policy experience, identify shared priorities, and contribute urban inputs to the broader BRICS process.

Shared Urban Priorities Across BRICS Nations

The Union Minister said that the BRICS Urbanisation Forum comes at an important moment, as many BRICS nations are experiencing rapid urban growth while addressing common challenges of housing, mobility, climate risk, municipal capacity, urban finance, and service delivery.

 

 

The Forum will focus on a few broad priorities: inclusive urban development, climate and disaster-resilient infrastructure, stronger municipal institutions, and digital innovation for better urban governance.

Scheduled Programme and Expected Outcomes

The 13th BRICS Urbanisation Forum to be held for 2 days will host ministers, senior officials, policymakers, urban practitioners and experts from BRICS member nations. All eleven BRICS member countries have been invited to participate with ministerial-level delegations.

The first day of the Forum will include the inaugural session and a high-level plenary on shared BRICS urban priorities. Delegates will also be taken on a field visit to selected sites in New Delhi, for exposure to India’s urban transformation.

The second day will include thematic panel discussions on the Forum’s priority areas. Member nations will be participating in the panel discussions to share their country experiences. In addition, there will also be bilateral discussions amongst nations.

The deliberations are expected to support shared policy solutions on urbanisation challenges, and strengthen cooperation among BRICS countries on building inclusive, resilient and people-centred cities.

The Union Minister said that India looks forward to welcoming delegates from across the BRICS family to New Delhi, and to working together on cities that are truly for people.

PM SVANidhi: Advancing Financial Inclusion for Street Vendors = Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 1. What is PM SVANidhi?

PM SVANidhi is a Central Sector Scheme supporting street vendors through affordable working capital, financial inclusion and social protection measures.

2. Why was it introduced?

PM SVANidhi was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide affordable working capital loans to street vendors whose businesses had been severely affected. As the first dedicated micro-credit scheme for street vendors, who constituted a significant part of the informal workforce and often had limited access to formal credit, it aimed to support the growth of their businesses while promoting financial inclusion.

3. When was PM SVANidhi launched and which Ministries implement it?

The scheme was launched in June 2020. It is a joint responsibility of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Department of Financial Services (DFS).

4. What is the extended lending period under PM SVANidhi?

Building on the strong achievements and measurable impact, the government has approved restructuring and extension of PM SVANidhi. The lending period has been extended until March 2030.

5. Who is a Street Vendor/hawker?

Any person engaged in the vending of articles, goods, wares, food items, or merchandise of daily use or offering services to the public in a street, footpath, pavement, etc., from a temporary built-up structure or by moving from place to place. The goods supplied by them include vegetables, fruits, ready-to-eat street food, etc., and the services include barber shops, cobblers, laundry services, etc.

6. What financial assistance and benefits are provided under PM SVANidhi?

Street vendors receive collateral-free working capital loans of ₹15,000, ₹25,000 and ₹50,000 through progressive loan tranches. The scheme also provides interest subsidy, credit guarantee support and UPI-linked RuPay Credit Cards up to ₹30,000 for eligible vendors.

7. Is there any incentive for timely/ early repayment of the loan?

Yes. PM SVANidhi encourages timely and early repayment by providing an interest subsidy of 7 percent per annum. In addition, vendors who repay their loans on time become eligible for higher loan tranches in subsequent cycles.

8. How long will it take to get the loan approved?

PM SVANidhi leverages an end-to-end digital platform to streamline the loan application and approval process. On average, it takes about 23 days for a loan to be processed and approved, subject to verification and completion of required formalities.

9. How can street vendors holding a Letter of Recommendation (LoR) or Certificate of Vending (CoV) apply for a loan?

A street vendor holding a valid Letter of Recommendation or Certificate of Vending can apply for a PM SVANidhi loan through the scheme portal or Mobile App or with the assistance of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).

10. How many street vendors have benefited under PM SVANidhi?

More than 75.5 lakh street vendors have availed over 112 lakh loans under PM SVANidhi so far.

11. What is the total financial assistance disbursed under the scheme?

Loans amounting to more than ₹17,800 crore have been disbursed to street vendors across the country. Beneficiaries have also received nearly ₹800 crore through interest subsidies and digital cashback incentives.

12. How does PM SVANidhi promote digital and financial inclusion among street vendors?

The scheme encourages digital transactions through cashback incentives up to ₹1,600 and financial literacy support. More than 55 lakh vendors completed over 841 crore digital transactions worth nearly ₹8.96 lakh crore.

13. What is SVANidhi se Samriddhi and how does it support beneficiaries?

SVANidhi se Samriddhi profiles beneficiary families and links them with eight selected Central Government welfare schemes. More than 50 lakh families have been profiled and over 1.52 crore welfare benefits sanctioned under the initiative.

14. What training and capacity-building support is provided under PM SVANidhi?

The scheme provides training in financial literacy, digital literacy and food safety practices through collaboration with FSSAI. Around 6 lakh street food vendors have been trained on food safety and hygiene standards.

15. What impact has PM SVANidhi created on livelihoods and financial empowerment?

Independent studies conducted in 2023 and 2025 found improved business sustainability, higher incomes and stronger financial inclusion among beneficiaries. Nearly 95 percent of beneficiaries accessed formal institutional credit for the first time through the scheme. Around 30 percent of beneficiaries accessed additional credit beyond PM SVANidhi loans. Beneficiary incomes recorded an average annual increase of nearly 20 percent.

16. How has PM SVANidhi strengthened social inclusion and urban livelihoods?

Nearly 46 percent of beneficiaries are women and around 70 percent belong to marginalized communities. The scheme strengthened micro-enterprises, local supply chains and integration of vendors with Urban Local Bodies.

Moving Towards Effective City Government a Framework for Million Plus Cities

 

A Comprehensive Framework to Promote Affordable Housing

 

Evolution of Urban Planning in India

 

NATIONAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS 2026

 

NAKSHA (NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban HAbitations)

NAKSHA (NAtional geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban HAbitations) is a pioneering one-year pilot programme launched by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR) under the Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP). It aims to revolutionize urban land records across 157 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in 27 States and 3 Union Territories, covering over 4484 sq. km and benefiting 1.5 crore+ citizens.

Using cutting-edge aerial and field survey techniques, NAKSHA is building a comprehensive, GIS-integrated database of urban land parcels. The initiative is being implemented with the technical support of Survey of India, NICSI, MPSeDC, and five national Centres of Excellence.

Why NAKSHA:

With over 600 million people projected to reside in Indian cities by 2031, the need for accurate and accessible urban land records has never been more critical. NAKSHA plays a pivotal role in addressing this demand by enabling transparent property ownership, streamlining urban planning processes, and supporting better infrastructure development. It also contributes to enhancing municipal revenue collection, strengthening disaster preparedness and response, and boosting public trust and private investment through reliable, legally certified land data.

About NAKSHA Programme:

The National geospatial Knowledge-based land Survey of urban Habitations (NAKSHA) programme is a city survey initiative under the existing Digital India Land Records Modernization Programme (DILRMP).

It is spearheaded by the Department of Land Resources (DoLR), under the Ministry of Rural Development.

Under the new initiative, maps of towns and cities will be prepared. The programme has been launched as a pilot across 152 urban local bodies in 26 states.

The cities selected meet two criteria: area less than 35 sq km, and population less than 2 lakhs. The pilot will be completed in a year.

The Survey of India is the technical partner for NAKSHA programme which is responsible for conducting aerial surveys and providing orthorectified imagery, through third party vendors, to state and Union Territory governments.

Three Methodologies of Aerial Survey:
1.2D Nadir Camera – ORI, DEM, 2D dataset : (80 ULBs)
Oblique Angle Camera (5 cameras) – ORI, DEM, 3D reality Model, 3D GIS dataset: (48 ULBs)
Oblique Angle Camera (5 cameras) and LiDAR sensor – ORI, DEM, 3D reality Model, 3D GIS dataset, Bare earth: (24 ULBs)

What is a City

 A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agreed definition of the lower boundary for their size. In a narrower sense, a city can be defined as a permanent and densely populated place with administratively defined boundaries whose members work primarily on non-agricultural tasks. Cities generally have extensive systems for housing, transportation, sanitation, utilities, land use, production of goods, and communication. Their density facilitates interaction between people, government organizations, and businesses, sometimes benefiting different parties in the process, such as improving the efficiency of goods and service distribution.

The city, one of the world’s biggest phenomenon of the 21st century has evolved greatly over the centuries, particularly in terms of its size, form, structure and composition, while largely maintaining its importance in local and regional development. In just 65 years, the world has experienced a population shift from rural to urban, as witnessed by an increase in the global population living in urban areas from 29.6% in 1950 to 54% in 2015.

Urban Invest Window (UiWIN)

Urban Invest Window (UiWIN) is an initiative of HUDCO, under the guidance of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs. Urban Invest Window which will act as – One-stop, investment facilitator for our Indian cities.

India is witnessing one of the fastest-growing urban transformations in the world. By 2036, over 60 Crore Indians will call cities, their home. To support this fast urban growth, we need huge infrastructure investments, in our cities. However, our Urban Local Bodies still face multidimensional challenges — from capacity building to project preparation, from fund mobilization to investment facilitation. Urban Invest Window is expected to address these issues of our Urban Local Bodies.

UiWIN will facilitate more investments from multiple sources — which are faster and on better terms, like attract private investments by developing PPP projects, long-tenor, concessional and competitive financing from multilaterals like World Bank, ADB etc.

HUDCO will repurpose its pan India network of 20 Regional Offices, to act as Urban Invest Window(s). In a Hub and Spoke model, it will handhold the cities at every step of project journey — from identification of projects to their technical & financial structuring, from capital mobilization to project implementation. Working closely with the State Government and the ULBs, UiWIN will build a pipeline of bankable, investment-ready urban projects. UiWIN will connect the cities with investors - both domestic and global. 

UiWin will be a transformative initiative, aiming to double urban investments in next 5 years by - supporting in governance reforms, better financial management and improving the municipal competency. It will facilitate more urban investments through, enhanced and accelerated lending from HUDCO for urban projects, structure PPP projects & attract private investments; long-tenor, concessional and competitive financing from multilaterals like WB, ADB & others; support issuance of Municipal & pooled bonds access for ULBs; Land value capture & monetization; use Convergence with Central & State schemes for additional funding; and most importantly, help in Capacity building of ULB officials. 

National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM)

The National Urban Digital Mission (NUDM) will create a shared digital infrastructure for urban India, working across the three pillars of people, process, and platform to provide holistic support to cities and towns. It will institutionalise a citizen-centric and ecosystem-driven approach to urban governance and service delivery in 2022 cities by 2022, and across all cities and towns in India by 2024.

• NUDM will create a shared digital infrastructure that can consolidate and cross-leverage the various digital initiatives of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, enabling cities and towns across India to benefit from holistic and diverse forms of support, in keeping with their needs and local challenges.
• NUDM is citizen-centric, ecosystem-driven, and principles-based in both design and implementation. NUDM has articulated a set of governing principles, and inherits the technology design principles of the National Urban Innovation Stack (NUIS), whose strategy and approach was released by MoHUA in February, 2019. The principles in turn give rise to standards, specifications, and certifications, across the three pillars of people, process, and platforms.
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• National Urban Digital Mission Objectives

> National Urban Digital Mission creates an institutional approach where citizens are at the center of urban governance, improving services through digital solutions.
> National Urban Digital Mission will create a shared digital infrastructure for cities and towns, uniting various digital initiatives across the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
> The National Urban Digital Mission intends to enhance the capacity of all Urban Local Bodies, from the largest to the smallest, to serve citizens and build partnerships for addressing local challenges.

• National Urban Digital Mission Significance
• National Urban Digital Mission provides support for existing digital initiatives from MoHUA to offer diverse support to cities and towns, addressing local needs and challenges.
• NUDM follows the National Urban Innovation Stack (NUIS), ensuring technology design principles are followed for urban governance. This includes setting standards, specifications, and certifications for people, processes, and platforms.
• NUDM aims to strengthen the urban ecosystem by unlocking the power of urban data, enabling cities to tackle complex problems quickly and effectively.
• National Urban Digital Mission Initiatives
• India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX): Developed in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), IUDX secure sharing of urban data across cities and local bodies.
• SmartCode Platform: A platform designed to provide open-source code for urban governance applications, helping Urban Local Bodies to leverage existing digital solutions and customize them for local needs.
• New Smart Cities Website 2.0 and Geospatial Management Information System (GMIS): The updated website serves as a central hub for all Smart Cities initiatives, offering easy access to resources, updates, and information related to the mission.

SmartCode Platform

SmartCode is a platform that enables all ecosystem stakeholders to contribute to a repository of open-source code for various solutions and applications for urban governance. It is designed to address the challenges that ULBs face in the development and deployment of digital applications to address urban challenges, by enabling cities to take advantage of existing codes and customising them to suit local needs, rather than having to develop new solutions from scratch. As a repository of open-source software, the source code available on the platform will be free to use without any licensing or subscription fees, thus limiting costs to those involved with customising the code and developing a locally-relevant solution.

India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX)

The India Urban Data Exchange has been developed in partnership between the Smart Cities Mission and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. IUDX serves as a seamless interface for data providers and data users, including ULBs, to share, request, and access datasets related to cities, urban governance, and urban service delivery. IUDX is an open-source software platform which facilitates the secure, authenticated, and managed exchange of data amongst various data platforms, 3rd party authenticated and authorised applications, and other sources. As the number of cities on IUDX expands, this will scale up to uniform and seamless sharing between data producers and data consumers across urban India.  IUDX is designed to address the problem of data silos, both within and across cities. Cities generate large volumes of data, which are recorded by a wide range of entities, both within government and across industry, academia, and civil society. The combination of these datasets can enable rapid innovation, as well as a better understanding of and planning for urban needs and challenges.  IUDX creates a secure and reliable channel for data producers or owners to share their data, with complete control over what is shared and with whom, in order to enable sharing while addressing security and privacy protections by design.

National Urban Information System

The Ministry of  Urban Development launched the National Urban Information System (NUIS) Scheme in March, 2006 on National Mission Mode. This scheme was launched for developing GIS database for 137 towns/cities (currently 152 towns/cities) in India. The maps prepared will be at two scales i.e. 1:10000 & 1:2000. In addition to this under NUIS scheme utility mapping will for done at 1:1000 scale for 24 towns.

The Spatial and attribute databases thus generated will be useful for preparation of Master/ Development plans, detailed town planning schemes and serve as decision support for e-governance.

Components of NUIS Scheme:

The Scheme comprises of broadly two major components:

1) Urban Spatial Information System (USIS) to meet the spatial requirements of urban planning. It will help in making GIS based multi hierarchical data base to support Master/Zonal plan preparation and help Urban Local Bodies in administration and utilities management. This is to be achieved by having a 3 tier GIS database for each city/town which will support the main objectives of Urban Management & Planning.

• 1:10,000 scale GIS with parameters of spatial and attribute information that will be the core of Master Planning and Zonal Planning exercises in urban Settlements.
• 1:2,000 scale GIS database with parameters of spatial and attribute information in support of detailed town planning Schemes and urban administration.
• Establish a 1:1000 scale utilities GIS on a pilot basis with inclusion of power, water-supply, sewerage and other utilities that will support Utilities Planning and Management in urban settlements.

2) National Urban Databank and Indicators (NUDB&I) to develop indicators for supporting National Urban Observatory (NUO) by integrating the database of all states and towns at TCPO/MoUD. Enable the establishment of a Local Urban Observatory (LUO) in each State which will integrate the NUDB&I databases for all towns within the State.

This will also provide necessary inputs/report on the status and conditions of urban areas to MoUD, Planning Commission, States indicators for National Urban Observatory (NUO) include:

• Socio Economic development
• Infrastructure
• Transportation
• Environmental management
• Local authorities
• Housing

This data will be used by municipal corporations/ municipalities & ULBs to fulfill their roles assigned to them under 12th Schedule of the 74th CAA. For successful implementation of this scheme data collected by USIS and NUDBI will be integrated and used for better plan making and thus ensure planned development by fulfilling the data needs.

Limitations of NUIS

• Town planning is a state subject so developing standard indicators for all town and cities will be difficult.
• Although selection procedure for towns and cities covered under the scheme is rational but some important urban centers remain uncovered
• Fund allocation for the scheme is very less when compared to other schemes like JNNURM as the per capita expenditure is about Rs.5.60/- as compared to Rs.4500/- for JNNURM for making CDPs.
• Coordination at different level is essential to fulfill the objective
• Skilled man power is required for various work at different levels.

Effectiveness of Alternative Models of Land Use Planning

 

Urban Infrastructure in India - An Overview

 

GREEN AND BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN URBAN AREAS

Green and Blue Infrastructure (GBI)are characterized as “Green-Blue Urban Grids” by embracing storm water management, climate adaptation and multifunctional green space. A typical blue-green infrastructure project may have several socioeconomic and environmental benefits but its implementation in brown field city and creation of new GBI is a challenging task for ULBs. It is very important to bring functional, social, and economic changes through GBI developments in distant areas/districts in urban areas. In outlook of GBI, urban area may cherish as integrated system of ‘socio-ecological’ and ‘socio-blue economy’. In socio-ecological context, planning and design of urban green spaces create socio-environmental integrity whereas socio-blue economy provides social and economic sustainability to the communities through various micro economical activities. In fact, GBI keep cities more sustainable with ‘greater likelihood’ and ‘sufficient livelihood’.

The Green Infrastructure (GI) refers to nature-based solutions to address various environmental and social challenges whereas Blue Infrastructure (BI) refers to the network of water bodies and water management systems to provide environmental, social, and economic benefits by managing water which include both natural and engineered features. In other words, green infrastructure is considered a subset of "Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure". It includes low-carbon infrastructure such as renewable energy infrastructure, public transport systems, etc. which contribute less emission, less carbon footprints and keep urban areas more clean and green.

Blue Infrastructure and Green Infrastructure: An Integrated Understanding:

Blue Infrastructure and Green Infrastructure termed as Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) includes both "blue" elements such as rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, green roofs, etc. which bring about water flow & storage, whereas "green" features such as parks, urban forests, green walls, roof-top gardens, etc. help with infiltration, filtration, evaporation, transpiration, etc. Sometimes, Blue-Green Infrastructure is also characterized as “Green-Blue Urban Grids” by embracing storm water management, climate adaptation and multifunctional green space.

 In broader sense, Blue-Green Infrastructure may also be considered as a component of sustainable urban drainage system which is integrated into urban planning to manage storm water. Therefore, sustainable urban drainage plan is always part and parcel of Master Plan of any town and city to avoid water logging, urban flooding, etc. 

Further, Blue-Green Infrastructure is also associated with Gray Infrastructure. Gray Infrastructure is nothing but conventional storm water management system such as pipes, culverts, basins, etc. which are designed to collect and convey storm water away from urban areas. Table 1 describes comparative understanding of green infrastructure, blue infrastructure and gray infrastructure as shown below. 

Integrated Understanding of Green Infrastructure, Blue Infrastructure and Gray Infrastructure

Sl. No.	Infrastructure(s)	Understanding(s)	Example(s)
1.	Green Infrastructure	Natural Process by utilizing natural elements to manage storm water, improve water quality, reduce urban heat effects, etc.	Green Roofs: Roofs covered with green vegetation.  Rain Gardens: Depressions in the landscape to collect and filter rainwater. Permeable Pavements: Pavements that allow water to pass through into the ground.  Urban Forests:  Trees and other vegetation in urban areas.
2.	Blue Infrastructure	It refers to all types of water bodies (surface and underground) available in urban areas. It is useful for water management and better micro climate at city level in urban areas.	Surface Water Bodies:  Lakes, rivers, canals, etc. Underground Water Sources: Aquifers, wells, springs, artesian wells, hand-pump well, etc.
3.	Gray Infrastructure	It is traditional approach to manage storm water and removethe same from urban areas speedily. In other words, Gray infrastructure focuses on both traditional and engineered solutions used for managing storm water in urban areas.	Storm Water Management: Gutters, drains, pipes, detention basins, storm water sewer lines, etc. Wastewater Management:  Sewage treatment plants, pipelines, etc.

In fact, Gray infrastructure is crucial as it need technically design and proper maintenance otherwise may cause situations like water logging, urban flooding, etc. and damage water sources and qualities.

Green and Blue Infrastructure Development in Urban Areas: Master Plan Approach:

A Master Plan of any town /city is prepared to guide planned development through various policies and development strategies to ensure coordinated and sustainable growth. In fact, it is a comprehensive and legal document guiding the city's development for a specific period, typically 20 years. Green infrastructure and Blue infrastructure are important components and hence their developments are very crucial for livable and healthy city but several Indian cities have seen a decline in green and blue features due to rapid urbanization and haphazard development. One side, built up areas of the cities is increasing and other side green spaces, water bodies, etc. are shrinking. Many Indian cities have promoted green and blue infrastructure development through Master Plan provisions. The main aim is to enhance existing blue systems in the city through restoration and promote green development along them through planned strategies.

Govt. Initiatives for Green and Blue Infrastructure Development

Sl. No.	Initiatives	Govt. Agency	Description	Prominence
1.	Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT)	MoHUA, Govt. of India.	It focused on providing basic amenities like water supply and sanitation, with an emphasis on green spaces and water body rejuvenation.	Green and Blue Infrastructure Development
2.	AMRUT 2.0	MoHUA, Govt. of India.	AMRUT 2.0 expands its scope to include water security, sewage management, and the rejuvenation of water bodies.	Green and Blue Infrastructure Development
3.	Smart Cities Mission	MoHUA, Govt. of India.	Preserving and developing open spaces, parks, playgrounds, and recreational spaces in order to enhance the quality of life, reduce urban heat effects in urban areas.	Green Infrastructure Development
4.	Nagar Van Yojana	Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India.	Nagar Van Yojana (NVY) scheme was launched in 2020, for creation of Nagar Vans in urban areas, which promotes urban forestry by involving local communities, NGOs, educational institutions, local bodies, etc. Nagar Van Yojana envisages creating 1000 Nagar Van / Nagar Vatika in Cities having Municipal Corporation/Municipal council/Municipality/Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) for providing wholesome healthy living environment for the residents and thus contributing to growth of clean, green, healthy and sustainable cities.	Urban Forests
5.	Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification &Maintenance) Policy, 2015	MoRTH	Promote greening and development eco-friendly National Highway corridors across the country with participation of farmers, private sector and government institutions including Forest Department. The main objective was to reduce the impact of air pollution and dust by planting trees and shrubs along the National Highways. They act as natural sink for air pollutants and arrest soil erosion at the embankment slopes.	Eco-friendly NH Corridors
6.	"Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2023-24" - Part-III (Urban Planning Reforms)	DoE, MoF	Strengthening Natural Ecosystem of Urban Areas through Urban Planning Aspects of the Reform: Policy interventions for urban water management and implementation of projects on ground for creation of Sponge Cities, including Urban Forests. Objectives of these reforms were to restore the city's capacity to absorb, infiltrate, store, purify, drain, and manage rainwater and regulate the water cycle. Master Plan for Sponge City is to be complemented with a Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) document and enforcement mechanism. States is also to develop urban forests that can be defined as networks or systems of groups of trees, located in urban and peri-urban areas	i. Promotion of Sponge Cities for Sustainability (Conservation &Rejuvenation of Water bodies) ii.Promotion of Riverfront Development iii.Creation of Urban Forests

According to the World Economic Forum, green and blue infrastructure is one of proactive adaptation for sustainable development, and enhanced quality of life for urban populations. The outcomes of research shows that 'green' and 'blue' infrastructure such as urban parks, wetlands, bioswales & water plazas, etc. mitigate physical risks and foster social cohesion critical to surviving and recovering from crises. In this context, it is imperative to understand that restoration & preservation of existing BGI and creation of new BGI are optimistic approach for sustainable, resilient and healthy urban environments in Indian cities. This approach integrates natural features such as parks, wetlands, urban forests and water bodies with built infrastructure which is very much desirable for addressing climate change, improving water management, and enhancing quality of life. 

Green and Blue infrastructure (GBI) may be recognized as a tool for mitigating the impacts of urban heat islands, flooding, water scarcity, rapid storm water runoff, etc. Further, GBI offers improved public health and well-beings of the city residents through improved air &water quality, increased green spaces for recreation, cooling effects, etc. The need of the hour is to integrate GBI with existing infrastructure particularly with existing gray infrastructure. It requires holistic and effective approach to urban development and hence Govt. incentives and financial assistances are required through various schemes and programs for the same. 

Presently, innovation and technological advancements are required for optimizing GBI design and implementation. The bioswales, rain gardens, etc. as landscape elements need to be created for capturing , filtering, and infiltrating storm water runoff along roadsides and in open spaces, parks, etc. Furthermore, blue-green action plan with innovative solutions like blue and blue-green roofs, painting of roof surfaces, walls to absorb rainwater, reduce storm water runoff, etc. need to be implemented by the Urban Local Bodies. Apart from green spaces, planting more trees, creating new urban forests, etc. it is also important to use cool pavements through using light-colored or reflective pavements to reduce heat absorption, moderate surface temperatures, etc. for urban cooling effects. It is a high time to restore and create wet lands for detention and filter rainwater, replenish groundwater and enhance biodiversity.