Date: 06/05/2023

Relevance: GS-3: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways

Key Phrases: inward net movement, Inclusive Planning, Appropriate Land-use Patterns, Sustainable Transportation, Aspirational Cities Programme, Jal Jeevan Mission, Garbage Free Cities.

Context:

• India is experiencing rapid urbanisation. Therefore, it is important to understand the pattern of this growth and its effect on the population.
• Urban India is undergoing a major transformation with an inward net movement of people for better livelihood opportunities.

Key Highlights:

• Around 590 million people would live in the cities by 2030.
• While cities constitute about 3 per cent of the land in the country, they generate 70 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and contribute substantially to economic growth and opportunities.
• Maharashtra reported the largest share of the urban population of India (13.5 per cent) as per Census 2011.
• The share of the urban population in Maharashtra was 45.2 per cent, much higher than the national figure of 31.1 per cent.
• Maharashtra also reported the largest number of slums that are home to more than 11.8 million people living in these informal settlements including 17 million children and adolescents, comprising 34 per cent of the urban population.
• Cities in Maharashtra and other states continue to grapple with challenges and pressures relating to basic infrastructure, air pollution, deficient infrastructure etc.

Challenges Faced by Indian Cities:

• Inadequate Infrastructure: The lack of adequate infrastructure, including roads, public transportation, water supply, and sanitation, poses a significant challenge to urban growth.
• Affordable Housing Shortage: Rapid urbanization has resulted in a sharp increase in demand for housing, which has led to a sharp rise in prices, making it difficult for lower-income groups to access housing.
• Traffic Congestion: The increasing number of vehicles on the roads, coupled with the inadequate road network, has resulted in severe traffic congestion, leading to longer travel times, increased air pollution, and reduced productivity.
• Air Pollution: The high levels of air pollution are a result of a combination of factors such as industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, and the burning of agricultural waste. Pollution is leading to respiratory diseases and other health issues.

Importance of Holistic Urban Planning:

• Sustainable Urban Development: Holistic urban planning integrates economic, social, and environmental considerations to ensure sustainable urban development.
• Inclusive Planning: Holistic urban planning emphasizes the need for inclusive planning, where the needs of all stakeholders are considered, including low-income groups, informal settlements, and marginalized communities.
• Appropriate Land-use Patterns: Holistic urban planning involves the identification of appropriate land-use patterns that promote mixed-use development, compact urban form, and the preservation of open spaces.
• Basic Services: Holistic urban planning aims to ensure that basic services such as water, sanitation, and transportation are available to all residents.
• Sustainable Transportation: Holistic urban planning emphasizes the importance of promoting sustainable modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, and public transportation to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

The Aspirational Cities Programme:

• Maharashtra has initiated the Aspirational Cities Programme (ACP) modeled on the Aspirational Districts initiative of Niti Aayog.
• The ACP is based on three priority areas: integration of inclusive urban development involving all development sectors, adoption of scientific data methods for assessing and monitoring outcomes, and enhancing citizen participation in civic affairs through physical and digital means.
• The ACP focuses on improving governance, addressing persistent civic issues, and increasing funding avenues for urban local bodies.

Implementation of the ACP:

• The ACP has identified 57 cities proposed for the programme based on individual ranking.
• The cities were ranked on revenue and other services such as tap drinking water connection per household, rate of completion of houses as a part of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, Garbage Free Cities (GFC) star ranking, and population of backward classes in the city.
• Service level benchmarking was done based on the data collected on the Performance Assessment System of the Government of Maharashtra.
• The performance of the 57 selected cities would be monitored and ranked quarterly through a standard digital monitoring platform.
• The indicators cover urban infrastructure, education, urban services, skill development, and climate change.

Key Objectives of the ACP:

• Adoption of innovative and sustainable technologies to enhance the quality of life of citizens.
• Strengthening urban planning and management systems to provide equitable access to basic services, residences, and improved economic management.
• Provisioning adequate potable tap water to all households by taking advantage of the ambitious Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Increasing tax revenue of urban local bodies by reforming property assessment and adopting the market value of the property as a base for assessment.
• Enhancing citizen participation in civic affairs through physical and digital means.
• Collaborative effort: The ACP is implemented through a collaborative effort between the state government, local bodies, and development partners to leverage resources, expertise, and knowledge.
• Targeted interventions: The program identifies and prioritizes critical areas that require immediate intervention, such as health, education, water supply, sanitation, housing, and infrastructure.
• Capacity building: The ACP focuses on building the capacity of local bodies and stakeholders to plan, implement, and manage development projects effectively.
• Innovation and sustainability: The program encourages the use of innovative and sustainable solutions to address the challenges faced by the selected cities, such as renewable energy, waste management, and green infrastructure.
• Monitoring and evaluation: The ACP has a robust monitoring and evaluation system to track the progress of development projects and ensure accountability.

Conclusion:

• The Aspirational Cities Programme is a step in the right direction towards inclusive urban development in Maharashtra.
• Bringing a sense of competition amongst the cities for urban governance will catapult the state into a trillion-dollar economy and usher in ease of living in the ever-expanding urban space.
• It is time to accept the reality that New India is moving from its villages to the cities, and therefore, the need for renewed thinking and policies that are citizen-centric.

Source: The Indian Express

Mains Question:

Q. Maharashtra has conceptualised and initiated the Aspirational Cities Programme (ACP) modelled on the lines of the Aspirational Districts initiative of Niti Aayog. Discuss the key features and objectives of the ACP. (250 Words).