ET Awards' Agenda For Renewal 2011: Build new cities and make existing ones smarter and better

About 70% of India’s GDP in 2030 will come from cities, according to McKinsey Global Institute. At least five major states will have more than 50% of their population living in cities. Demand for urban land will rise from 7.5 million hectares in 2007 to 18.6 million hectares. But India is not creating enough new cities. State governments are disinterested or incapable.

Mumbai is referred to as the Shanghai of India, but infrastructure is poor and there is hardly any urban reform. To renew cities, we need more public-private partnerships because all capabilities do not lie only in the state or only in the private sector. The facts are clear. The case is compelling. What is needed is leadership and a sense of urgency.

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