INDIA EXPERTS 2047IDEAS · PEOPLE · SOLUTIONS
MISSION 07 / INDIA 2047

Cities — Cities that work for residents

Build livable cities with housing, mobility and clean air.

Illustration of Cities mission
The mission in brief

What India must achieve

Urban success depends on housing, mobility, clean air, water, public space and capable local institutions.

Enable transit-oriented development; strengthen municipal finances; modernize land records; expand affordable housing; improve air and waste management.

Our 2047 direction: Build livable cities with housing, mobility and clean air. Progress should be measured through outcomes experienced by people and businesses, not announcements alone.

Three challenges to solve

1. Housing and mobility

For cities, this is a system-level constraint. The mission proposes documenting a comparable baseline across states, identifying the institutions responsible and testing solutions before nationwide expansion.

2. Pollution

For cities, this is a system-level constraint. The mission proposes documenting a comparable baseline across states, identifying the institutions responsible and testing solutions before nationwide expansion.

3. Urban governance

For cities, this is a system-level constraint. The mission proposes documenting a comparable baseline across states, identifying the institutions responsible and testing solutions before nationwide expansion.

Priority solutions

1. Transit-oriented development

Develop a practical intervention around transit-oriented development, starting with stakeholder mapping, a clearly defined target population, implementation costs and independent measurement. Compare approaches across Indian states and relevant international peers before recommending scale-up.

2. Affordable housing

Develop a practical intervention around affordable housing, starting with stakeholder mapping, a clearly defined target population, implementation costs and independent measurement. Compare approaches across Indian states and relevant international peers before recommending scale-up.

3. Urban service dashboards

Develop a practical intervention around urban service dashboards, starting with stakeholder mapping, a clearly defined target population, implementation costs and independent measurement. Compare approaches across Indian states and relevant international peers before recommending scale-up.

Roadmap to 2047

2026–2030 Establish transparent baseline and test targeted interventions in cities.
2030–2040 Scale independently evaluated approaches through public-private collaboration.
2040–2047 Track outcomes, address remaining gaps and update the strategy with evidence.

Outcomes to track

  • Commute times
  • housing affordability
  • air quality
  • water continuity
  • municipal own-source revenue.

Proposed first pilot

Create a city scorecard comparing service outcomes, public budgets and citizen feedback across a pilot group.

Evidence and further reading

The linked sources provide context; the mission recommendations are independent editorial proposals, not endorsed by the sources.

Read the detailed research brief →