Building Better Indian Cities: Smarter Planning for Real Impact

India’s cities generate nearly 70% of the country’s GDP but are home to just 35% of the population. Despite their economic importance, urban areas often struggle with poor planning, fragmented governance, and underutilized land. Meanwhile, rural and peri-urban regions, which are key to long-term sustainability, are often left behind in the development conversation.

To truly realise the potential of Indian cities and towns, we need faster, smarter, and more integrated planning approaches.

What’s Holding Us Back?

From years of fieldwork and project experience, a few common patterns emerge.

For one, coordination between departments. Different agencies work on overlapping mandates, often without talking to each other. It’s not unusual to see a newly built road dug up again just weeks later for utility installation. This kind of duplication is a waste of money, resources, and it creates major delays and inconvenience for citizens.

Getting a project off the ground is another challenge. On average, infrastructure initiatives need approvals from 10 to 15 departments. The process can drag on for up to two years, and by the time approvals come through, the context may have already shifted.

There are also design issues. Many urban interventions are still built with little regard for the environment. This means poor stormwater drainage, rising urban heat, and an overall system that’s more expensive to maintain.

Despite the high demand for space, we’re still developing outward, on greenfield land, while brownfield areas inside cities sit underused. This not only stretches city infrastructure but also makes development more costly.

Then there’s the matter of public space. In most Indian cities, streets are designed for vehicles, not people. More than half of urban residents don’t have access to a public park or safe sidewalk within a 15-minute walk, especially in low-income neighbourhoods.

Lastly, projects often stall or shift direction when governments change. Long-term infrastructure suffers when priorities reset every election cycle.

Where Change Is Happening?

However, not all is grim, some programs are starting to shift the approach:

• Smart Cities Mission has helped over 65 cities set up integrated urban service platforms. Many now have unified teams working across departments, reducing approval times and streamlining execution.
• CITIIS (City Investments to Innovate, Integrate and Sustain) has shown how combining traditional infrastructure with nature-based solutions can reduce flooding and improve land use. Cities in the program have reported better interdepartmental coordination and increased long-term viability.
• River and waterfront redevelopment is another bright spot. Over 300 km of urban rivers have been revived into usable public space, combining ecological restoration with community needs.
• Pedestrian-friendly Street projects have transformed more than 500 km of urban roads, improving accessibility and mobility, especially for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

These are encouraging signs that cities can evolve, with the right support and planning.

What Actually Works?

From experience, some strategies consistently deliver better results:

• Integrated service delivery

  Cities that centralize planning and approvals through a single window or unified platform are more efficient and responsive. Projects get implemented faster and with fewer conflicts.

• Brownfield over greenfield

  Revitalizing existing urban areas not only saves on infrastructure costs, it also brings people closer to jobs, services, and transit. Mixed-use development on brownfield sites has shown 30–40% higher economic returns than single-use expansion zones.

• Green + Gray infrastructure

  Blending nature-based systems (like rain gardens or permeable pavements) with conventional infrastructure reduces maintenance costs and improves resilience during extreme weather.

• Designing for people

  Cities that prioritize public spaces, walkability, and accessibility tend to see higher foot traffic, stronger local economies, and better public health outcomes.

• Long-term frameworks

  Infrastructure needs consistent leadership. Cities with stable implementation structures ones that survive election cycles, see higher completion rates and better long-term results.

How We Approach It at Eka Infra?

At Eka Infra, we understand these challenges from the ground up. Our work is rooted in data, but also shaped by local realities. We collaborate with governments, planners, and communities to create integrated design solutions that work, solutions that are technically sound, financially viable, and socially inclusive.

The potential exists. With thoughtful planning and execution, both urban and rural areas in India can become more liveable, equitable, and resilient for everyone.