GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Governance
Source: IE
Context: The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry is currently evaluating 26 proposals from 21 states for the creation of new cities in India.
Recommendations for new cities:
15th Finance Commission recommended Rs 8,000 crore for the incubation of eight new cities (Rs 1000 cr to each) in the country through a challenge.
Criteria:
- A state can have only one new city through this fund.
- A maximum of nine new cities in nine states can be selected
The proposal received for new cities or expansion of existing ones are Gurgaon (Haryana), Jabalpur Extension (Madhya Pradesh), Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh), GIFT City Expansion (Gujarat), Nagaki Global City (Nagaland), New MOPA Ayush City (Goa), and Bantala Greenfield City (West Bengal)
Need for New cities:
| Need for new cities | Supporting data |
| Rapid urbanization | According to the United Nations, 68% of the world population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050. This trend is driven by factors such as population growth, migration, and increasing economic opportunities in cities.
The share of the urban population in India is over 35% (2021) |
| Congestion and pollution in existing cities | This can have negative impacts on health, quality of life, and the environment. |
| Housing shortages | Nearly 2 million people in India are homeless |
| Economic development | For example, the creation of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone in China in 1980 has been credited with spurring economic growth and development in the region. |
| Disaster resilience | For example, after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, the government began planning a new city called “Smart City Kashiwa-no-ha” that is designed to be resilient to earthquakes and other disasters. |
New cities developed in India since Independence: Chandigarh, Gandhinagar, Navi Mumbai, Bhubaneswar, Naya Raipur, Amravati (Andhra Pradesh), Dholera, Gift City, Kochi Smart City, GIFT City Gujarat, Auroville (Puducherry)
Government programmes for City development:
| Programme Name | Description |
| Smart Cities Mission (2015) | It aims to develop 100 smart cities across India by providing them with advanced and modern infrastructure. |
| AMRUT (2015) | It aims to provide basic amenities like water supply, sewerage, and urban transport to improve the quality of life of citizens. It focuses on 500 cities and towns with a population of over 100,000. |
| Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (2015) | It aims to provide affordable housing to the urban poor by 2022. |
| Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (2014) | It focuses on constructing toilets, solid waste management, and creating awareness among citizens to maintain cleanliness. |
| Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) (2015) | It aims to preserve and revitalize the heritage cities and their cultural heritage. |
| National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) (2013) | It aims to reduce poverty and vulnerability of urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. |
Insta Links
Mains Links
In the backdrop of the smart cities mission, can it address the contemporary and future needs of India’s urbanization? Critically analyse. (250 Words)
