On the Budget - Urban Orphans

We all know that a section of a bridge under construction for the Delhi Metro collapsed recently.

We know that Mumbai has a huge issue of water logging every time heavy rainfall coincides with the High Tide.

Now :

- Who is the Mayor of Delhi ? Of Mumbai ?

- What is the Delhi /Mumbai /Bangalore /Chennai progress plan vs Budget ? Is there a commonly understood vision that has been articulated in the past ?

Politically, Urban India is orphaned. Economically, it can’t avoid being at the center stage.

Urban Indians do not represent a constituency. Else the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), which will spend Rs 39,000 crore in giving every Ruralite a chance to earn would not be specified as ' Rural' .

Traditionally and more so since economic liberalization, Urban India is the only route to future growth. This is where we see economic activity, creation of jobs, greater private investments. Urbanites pay taxes.

- Where is a 360-degree plan for our 6 metros ?

- Why is no one stating plans for power, ports, highways and airports in a city specific manner?


At least 60% of our gross domestic product comes from urban India; it houses 30% of our people.

- Why can we not have a vision to create 6 more metros in the next 30 years ? Why has urbanization been a “Chandigarh in limbo” most of the time
?

Consider :

- Are we thinking and funding affordable housing ?

- Why are we not seeing the potential of bringing in public-private partnership in urban infrastructure development?


The first Budget of the new Union government does not seem to indicate that they see their clear mandate as a clear Urban India mandate too.

Rome was not built in a day, but on a day they may have budgeted for it to start !!