3 Challenges Facing India'S Growing Cities: Mckinsey Us$ 1.1 Trillion Investment

3 Challenges Facing Indias Growing
Cities
by Madhav Pai - March 06, 2014

In the past two decades, Indian cities have grown tremendouslynot only in
population, but in geographic size. Photo credit: Peter Vandeput, Flickr 2007
Population growth and rapid urbanization are combining to create huge
challenges for Indian cities. According to McKinsey, the countrys cities are
expected to grow from 340 million people in 2008 to a whopping 590 million
in 2030. Meeting demand for urban services in these cities will require US$ 1.1
trillion in capital INVESTMENT over the next 20 years. Without the right
design and planning, this massive urban growth could exacerbate existing
problems of congestion, pollution, and traffic safety.
Overcoming these hurdles and creating sustainable cities in India is the main
topic of discussion at the upcoming CONNECTKaro, a conference co-
organized byEMBARQ India and the Directorate of Urban Land Transport
(DULT), Government of Karnataka, India that will take place from March 10-
11, 2014. The second annual conferencenamed for the idea of Karo, which
means make it happenexplores sustainable transport opportunities as
ways of addressing the challenges associated with Indias urban growth.
But before we can identify ways that India can sustainably urbanize, its
important to first understand some of the underlying obstacles.
3 Key Challenges to Indias Urban
Development
Rapid and unprecedented population growth have contributed to common,
pressing issues for Indias cities. Many of these are inherently linked to
transportation, including reducing urban sprawl, ensuring safe access to city
services, and addressing the real estate industries roles in determining cities
designs.
1. Urban Sprawl
In the past two decades, Indian cities have grown tremendouslynot only in
population, but in geographic size. For instance, Delhis urban area has
almostdoubled in the last 20 years. This has led to an increase in average trip
length from8.5 kilometers to 10.4 kilometers, and this commuting distance is
projected to increase further in the coming years. Sprawling cities and reliance
on automobiles have contributed to traffic congestion, air pollution, rising
greenhouse gas emissions, and poor public health. Ensuring that Indias cities
of the future are both livable and sustainable requires that decision-makers
find ways to shorten commuting distances and decrease urbanites reliance on
automobiles.
2. Traffic Safety and Accessibility
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10 percent of the worlds
road fatalities (130,000) occur in India alone. Traffic crashes occur every
minute, and alife is lost every 3.7 minutes. Crashes have a significant negative
impact on the nations economy, costing the country the equivalent of 3
percent of its GDPbetween 1999 and 2000. These startling numbers mean that
city leaders and other decision-makers must consider issues of safety not only
on the road, but also in the surrounding environment. Safety and
accessibility are key components of ensuring that cities become secure,
sustainable places to live.
3. Future Real Estate Development
As more and more people move into Indias cities, these people will need safe
places to live, work, and commute. Theres already a projected shortage
of 18.78 million households in India between 2012 and 2017. Real estate
developers will inevitably aim to fill this gap, which means that theyll have a
massive influence in shaping what Indias cities look like in the future. Will the
private sector INVEST in developments that provide access to sustainable
transport, or will they follow a business-as-usual path and perpetuate
problems of urban sprawl, pollution, and unsafe roads?
CONNECTKaro to Explore Solutions for an
Urbanized India
By bringing together stakeholders from all sectorsgovernment, academia,
and businessCONNECTKaro aims to foster meaningful dialogue on how to
overcome these challenges through sustainable transport solutions. A few key
topics of discussion will be:
How transit-oriented development (TOD) concepts, integrated transport and
land use planning, and environmentally friendly transport options can be
integrated into cities and states in order to cut back on urban sprawl and
pollution.
How last mile connectivity can be a critical factor in determining public
transportation usage. Plus, well examine how implementing low-cost,
accessible sustainable transport optionslike bike paths, pedestrian
walkways, and public transportcan help citizens commute more safely.
How housing projects can incorporate sustainable mobility options in order to
reduce emissions and create safer urban spaces. Well also examine how the
private sector can create platforms that support sustainable transport
innovations.
Overcoming Indias urbanization and sustainability challenges wont be easy.
But by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders for a solutions-
oriented conversation, we hope to begin identifying some of the ways to make
it happen.

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