Cities as Growth Hubs : Knowledge Framework - Annexes

Overview & Synopsis

India's rapidly growing urban population presents a significant opportunity for economic development, particularly as the country pursues its ambition of becoming a $30 trillion economy by 2047 under the Viksit Bharat vision. However, this urbanization potential remains underleveraged due to persistent challenges including inadequate access to affordable serviced land, gaps in transport and urban infrastructure, insufficient financing for catalytic projects, unplanned peri-urban expansion, and an urban form that limits livability and resilience, all of which constrain the agglomeration economies that drive productivity and innovation. Recognizing cities as growth hubs as a key priority in its FY 24-25 budget, the Government of India requested this report from the Department of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to develop actionable guidance on the subject. In response, this report presents a framework to help Indian cities realize their potential as competitive, livable, inclusive, and resilient urban growth hubs, supported by a concrete implementation roadmap. The framework draws on ongoing urban planning reforms by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Urbanization, and Niti Aayog's Growth Hubs program, proposing that cities with sufficient economic potential, anchored by access to skills, entrepreneurship, markets, connectivity, and institutional capacity, can serve as effective engines of sustained growth and job creation across India.