Key facts
- India's urban population is expected to double to 951 million by 2050.
- Nearly 33,000 deaths occurred between 2004 and 2020 due to building collapses, fires, or falls into pits.
- Experts believe India's cities lack enforcement of rules rather than the rules themselves.
- A 1992 constitutional amendment intended to strengthen municipalities remains largely unimplemented.
- On-street parking is identified as a major cause of road disarray and safety issues.
- Construction site violations are widespread due to financial incentives for speed and low penalties.
India's rapid urban expansion and ongoing infrastructure development are being hampered by a significant governance deficit that leads to preventable tragedies and a decline in urban living conditions, according to experts. The country faces challenges including poor walkability, severe air quality, inadequate construction regulation, frequent flooding, and strained waste management systems.
The World Bank projects India's urban population will double to 951 million by 2050, with more than half of the necessary infrastructure yet to be built. This growth exacerbates existing problems, as highlighted by recent incidents. A five-storey building collapse in Delhi killed seven people, months after authorities had flagged safety concerns in the area following a fire that claimed 23 lives.
Analysis of government data by the Times of India revealed nearly 33,000 deaths between 2004 and 2020 from building collapses, fires, or falls into open pits. Experts like Vinayak Chatterjee, founder of the Infravision Foundation, argue that the issue is not a lack of rules but a failure to enforce them, pointing to the largely unimplemented 1992 constitutional amendment meant to empower municipalities.
Transportation safety expert Rahul Goel believes on-street parking contributes significantly to road disarray, suggesting its removal would improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, reduce traffic, and enhance walkability. He cited Bangkok, Manila, and Cape Town as examples where such parking is restricted, attributing the situation in India to a governance failure.
Geetam Tiwari, an emeritus professor at IIT Delhi, noted widespread violations of construction safety guidelines, driven by contractors' financial incentives to speed up projects and low penalties for non-compliance. She advocates for collaboration among stakeholders, including resident associations and local authorities, to conduct audits and penalize violators.
In response to the Delhi building collapse, the high court has ordered safety inspections of student accommodations, and building owners have been arrested while municipal officials have been suspended. On air quality, Ronak Sutaria, CEO of Respirer Living Sciences, has developed affordable air-quality monitors for construction sites, with 5,000 units installed across 10 cities, helping authorities address pollution hotspots.