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Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India Report

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July 31, 2025

Mains: GS1 – population and associated issues | urbanization, their problems and their remedies.

GS2Governance | Devolution of powers and finances up to local levels and challenges therein.  

GS3 - Disaster management

Why in News?

Recently, the World Bank has released a report titled Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India estimating Indian cities will require $2.4 trillion by 2050 to build climate-resilient infrastructure and services.

What is key findings of the report?

Report

  • Released byWorld Bank, in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.

  • Objective – Assessing urban climate risks and economic opportunities.

  • Increase in population growth – The country’s urban population will nearly double to 951 million by 2050

  • Job creation – Cities will account for 70 % of all new employment generated 2030.

  • Increase in flood riskClimate change and urbanization patterns are the main drivers of stormwater-related or pluvial flooding risks, with a forecasted increase in risk of 3.6 to 7 times by 2070.

    • Annual estimated losses just from pluvial flood related flooding are likely to increase up to $14-30 billion by 2070, exposing up to 46.4 million people.

Flash floods is highly localized are recurring events in urban spaces occurring in a much shorter span of time (3-6 hours), which is often associated with cloudbursts.

3 Types of Urban Flooding – World Bank

  • Pluvial flooding – This occurs when heavy rainfall exceeds the soil's absorption and drainage capacity, leading to surface runoff.

  • Coastal flooding – It is caused by storm surges and high winds during high tides.

    • It is exacerbated by rising sea levels and low atmospheric pressure.

  • Fluvial flooding – This results from intense rainfall or snowmelt causing rivers to overflow.

    • It is characterized by a brief spike in water levels that recedes slower.

  • Higher fatalities – Heat-related deaths can double to over 3 lakh each year by 2050 due to global warming and the urban heat island phenomenon.

    • It found that Among 10 large cities in India, from the period 1983-1990 to 2010-2016, exposure to dangerous extreme heat stress has increased by 71 %.

Urban Heat Island effect is a local and temporary phenomenon experienced when certain pockets within a city experience a higher heat load than surrounding or neighboring areas on the same day.

What are the recommendations of the report?

  • Enhance autonomy – Indian cities should be granted greater autonomy to invest in climate resilience, adaptation, and mitigation.

    • Evidence suggests that cities with more decision-making power tend to outperform others in implementing effective climate solutions.

  • Localized approaches – Climate strategies tailored to local conditions rather than imposed uniformly across all states.

  • National and state-level support – Coordinated interventions at national and state levels are crucial to support and amplify local efforts in climate adaptation and mitigation.

  • Boosting private sector engagement – Encouraging greater participation from private enterprises in city-level climate initiatives.

  • Creating a financing roadmap – Establishing clear pathways for sustainable funding and investment in climate projects.

  • Building municipal capacities – Setting standards and providing resources to strengthen the capabilities of urban local bodies.

  • Capital mobilization – Blending public-private funds accelerates resilient urban infrastructure development.

What are the challenges in enhancing urban autonomy?

  • Weak devolution of powers – 74th Constitutional Amendment aimed to empower states to delegate responsibilities like urban planning, land use regulation, supply management, and slum improvement to ULBs.

  • However, many states have fallen short in fully realizing this potential.

  • Inadequate financial resources – ULBs frequently face significant financial constraints that hinder their ability to implement climate-resilient infrastructure and policies.

The Union Budget 2025-26 announced that the government will set up the Urban Challenge Fund of Rs 1 lakh crore to implement the proposals for ‘Cities as Growth Hubs’, ‘Creative Redevelopment of Cities’, and ‘Water and Sanitation.

  • Weak institutional capacity – Many ULBs also struggle with insufficient technical skills and administrative capabilities necessary to design and implement effective climate adaptation strategies.

  • Lack of structured governance – The absence of coordination among various urban authorities obstructs the seamless integration of climate resilience measures across different sectors.

  • Inadequate data – Lack of access to accurate and current data regarding climate risks and urban infrastructure, which are crucial for making informed decisions.

What lies ahead?

  • Measures like shifting working hours to early morning and late afternoon, urban greening, early warning systems, and cool roofs can save over 1.3 lakh lives.

  • Building climate resilient infrastructure is needed for both growth and sustenance in future.

Quick facts

  • Historically – The first municipal body was established in Madras in 1687, followed by Bombay and Calcutta.

Lord Ripon considered as the father of local self-government in India.

  • ConstitutionallyThe 74th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 gave constitutional status to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to strengthen local self-governance.

    • Part IX-A – Deals with the composition, roles, and responsibilities.

    • 12th ScheduleIt specifies 18 functions that are devolved to these ULBs.

Related linksUrban flooding | Urban Heat Island

Reference

The Indian Express| Towards Resilient and Prosperous Cities in India Report

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