The Collapsing Indian Cities
India proudly calls itself a $4 trillion economy — soon to become $5 trillion, they say.
On paper, everything looks glorious — GDP numbers rising, global image shining, and the dream of Viksit Bharat echoing everywhere.
But what’s the use of numbers when our cities — the very mirrors of growth — are collapsing?
Step out of your home in any metro — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad — and you’ll see the same story: broken roads, choked drains, encroached footpaths, unlivable traffic, and corruption at every level.
Yes, technically, these are “state subjects.” But if every single major city is in shambles, doesn’t the Centre carry some moral responsibility?
You can’t look away forever and say, “Urban development is a state matter.”
It’s time the Centre steps in, not just with slogans, but with a national blueprint for city governance —
⚫️Standard road construction guidelines,
⚫️Long-lasting utility ducts,
⚫️Proper stormwater and sewage systems,
⚫️Independent civic audit teams,
⚫️And a ruthless clean-up of municipal corruption.
Right now, municipal corporations have become collection centers — for politicians, for babus, for contractors. Everyone eats, and citizens suffer. Roads last weeks, drains collapse in one rain, and yet, tenders keep rolling with zero accountability.
You want to stop the brain drain, but you can’t even fix a drain.
People are losing hope — they’ve stopped believing their votes matter.
If we can’t fix basic minimum standards and plug leakages, even a $50 trillion economy will not change the ground reality.
Development cannot ride on broken roads and leaking drains. more
On paper, everything looks glorious — GDP numbers rising, global image shining, and the dream of Viksit Bharat echoing everywhere.
But what’s the use of numbers when our cities — the very mirrors of growth — are collapsing?
Step out of your home in any metro — Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Hyderabad — and you’ll see the same story: broken roads, choked drains, encroached footpaths, unlivable traffic, and corruption at every level.
Yes, technically, these are “state subjects.” But if every single major city is in shambles, doesn’t the Centre carry some moral responsibility?
You can’t look away forever and say, “Urban development is a state matter.”
It’s time the Centre steps in, not just with slogans, but with a national blueprint for city governance —
⚫️Standard road construction guidelines,
⚫️Long-lasting utility ducts,
⚫️Proper stormwater and sewage systems,
⚫️Independent civic audit teams,
⚫️And a ruthless clean-up of municipal corruption.
Right now, municipal corporations have become collection centers — for politicians, for babus, for contractors. Everyone eats, and citizens suffer. Roads last weeks, drains collapse in one rain, and yet, tenders keep rolling with zero accountability.
You want to stop the brain drain, but you can’t even fix a drain.
People are losing hope — they’ve stopped believing their votes matter.
If we can’t fix basic minimum standards and plug leakages, even a $50 trillion economy will not change the ground reality.
Development cannot ride on broken roads and leaking drains. more
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First of all since the Labor is very cheap and lot of Unemployment, we spread the dirt and there is some body to clean it. This culture has to stop totally. We have started seeing cleaning job with a very low eye. As this is not my job and there are others employed for this purpose. This has to stop totally. Other is in India, Unions are very powerful. This is their best way to strike. This has to stop. In Mumbai they must start sweeping the Roads and Footpaths 2 times a day i.e. day and night as is being done in Indore. Garbage disposal has to be done scientifically. more
Oct 19
Yes. It's true. I agree with the views expressed by Ramesh Bhagwat. The following definition befits to Indian democratic government. "The Indian Democratic Government is a government OFF the people, BUY the people and FAR from the people." Sorry to say. (With due apology to men of letters and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.) In democracy "Yadha Praja thadha Raja". more
Oct 12
The mindset of our own people are responsible for most of the filth and choked drains. Like China, Japan and USA, it is time we introduce civic science, both theoretical and practical, in our curricula in Schools. more
Oct 12
Ms. Teena you are so very right about your observations. Who is to blame? the corrupt Government- members of which are elected by us- our civic sense as a community or just th huge population? more
Oct 12
Center is more concerts out Bullet trains , water taxis, erecting colossal statues and of course winning elections. There is corruption and bribe at every level. No one can deny it. There is no strict enforcement of laws. Everything can be bought for a Price called bribe. Unauthorised constructions everywhere with impunity. Even for temple Dharshan one has to bribe to avoid the line. Ration card, caste certificate, home Registration all can be bought or effected by bribe. There are schemes with fancy names but the ground realty is the one who really needs gets left out. We can say that there has been no major scandals. But look at the plight of the ordinary citizens. If you are honest you have to go pillar to post to get things done if at all it can be done.In frustration you agree to bribe. The days of honest politicians working for the common man is vanishing. Trillion dollar economy, a population of billion but millions suffering. People die everyday due to poor conditions of roads, they get diseases because of poor hygiene, water logging and breeding ground for mosquitoes. Now we have medicines of adulteration and poor quality control. We the common people pay the price. Vision and mission is good but where is the supervision? more
Oct 11
