What’s one thing that would instantly improve your city?
The progression of a once sleepy city into a modern urban centre highlights significant improvements in infrastructure and quality of life over the past fifty years. Advanced technology has transformed commuting, with broader roads, efficient public transport systems, and reduced pollution. Urbanisation has led to challenges, including the growth of slums and increased demand for essential services. While city planning and the adoption of solar energy present opportunities for sustainable growth, persistent issues like electricity shortages pose ongoing challenges. Overall, the evolution of the city reflects a balance between development and environmental considerations, positioning it as a vital economic hub.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- The city has transformed from a dusty town into a modern urban center with improved infrastructure and quality of life.
- Urbanization brings challenges like slums and the need for better basic amenities and services.
- Electricity shortages persist, requiring advancements in power generation and distribution systems.
- Green initiatives, such as solar power, offer sustainable solutions but also pose new environmental concerns.
- Cities are now economic hubs, driving industrialization and employment while balancing development with ecological considerations.
Dusty and sleepy to modern
The city was a sleepy, dusty town with narrow roads and poor civic facilities. Despite being an important historical city known for its glorious past, it was in shabby condition. There was no foolproof complaint redressal system. Denizens had to face potholed roads, dirty drains, poor connectivity and waterlogging.
Modern city
The scenario changed. A half century after, there are broad, clean roads with beautifully decorated streetlights, public amenities and seamless connectivity. The drains are clean and unclogged; there is less waterlogging, and pluvial water soon flows off, leaving clean roads.
Changing time
Time is changing fast. Technological advancements are the order of the day. Technology is rapidly changing people’s lives, making them smarter, more organised and faster. Their lives have become faster, augmented by a flood of private vehicles like cars. A few decades ago, roads used to be crowded with bicycles, but now, in a changed scenario, cars are everywhere, running back-to-back on the improved roads. Whereas the increased number of cars is an indicator of growing wealth, it has become a necessity, not a luxury, in urbanisation. Increased private cars and the consequent surge in fossil fuel consumption adversely affect air quality. However, it is kept under control by using improved Bharat 6 or more engines and mechanical changes. While Ethanol blending has substantially contributed to checking pollution, it has its limits. Recent controversy over E20 petrol raises some serious concerns.
Using the public transport system is the remedy to reduce road congestion, pollution, traffic cacophony and time loss. Nevertheless, public transport still needs to develop further in terms of quality, quantity and easy availability. Metro rail, for example, is an effective alternative to shabby public transport, but its approachability is limited. It needs to expand its reach to distant areas.
Urbanisation
The fast pace of urbanisation has led cities to expand fast. The concepts of NCR (National Capital Region) and SCR (State Capital Region) are a reality. This is helping in the inclusive and unified development of cities along the line of the main Capital city. Now, no city is devoid of development. The boundaries of type 1, 2, and so on cities are fast waning. The concept of a metropolitan city is fast losing its significance. Much improved modes of public transport have drastically changed the style of commuting.
Transportation
Metro rail and RRTS (Rapid Rail Transit System) have considerably shrunk the distances. People living in far-flung areas are now able to reach their workplace easily. These systems have replaced the old, smoke-belching, outdated vehicles crammed with frustrated commuters. A clean and green mode of transportation and commuting has considerably cleaned the city air, which used to be heavily polluted with GHGs (Greenhouse Gases), soot and SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter).
expanding cities
With expanding city boundaries and increasing demands for civic facilities and connectivity, it is necessary to have an improved road network both for inter and intracity connection. The roads widened, alternate routes chalked out and constructed. Green corridors, ROBs, underpass et cetera have eased the traffic congestion, lowered the pollution level and saved the time. Different cities connected together by highly improved highways and access controlled greenfield expressways. The improved infrastructure has added convenience to swift transportation of goods, raw materials and prepared goods to desired stations, markets and ultimately to consumers.
Integrated development
An integrated program of infrastructure development started under PMGSNMP (Pradhan Mantri GatiShakti National Master Plan). It is an umbrella national master plan, launched on 13 October 2021. It involves more than 16 ministries connected on a GIS-based portal for better coordination. The aim is to improve multi modal transport system. Seven engines, namely, Rail, Road, Ports, Waterways, Airport, Mass transit and Logistics drive the scheme (PM GATISHAKTI)
Basic amenities and slum
The basic amenities a city needs for all its residents are clean potable water, robust drainage, electricity, and good roads. Urban development involves planning, design, and improving land use and infrastructure. With increasing urbanisation and migration of rural population to cities, the pressure mounts on cities. Mushrooming slums are one of the major fallouts. India Today says that about 1 in 6 urban Indians live in slums (INDIA TODAY). Built over a small area, slum is a conglomerate of haphazardly constructed shanty-like dwellings which are very small and crammed. They lack basic civic amenities such as clean water and drainage. Providing affordable houses to people is a challenge.
Disturbing eco-balance
Besides the basic amenities, hospitals, schools, community centres, and, of course, houses essentially required. Land is a static object. The land area is thus shrinking. Cities are fast engulfing rural land for building requirements. It puts pressure on agricultural land, which is receding fast and encroaching on forests and forest land. It leads to degraded forests, habitat destruction and loss of grasslands. For their food requirements, herbivores come out of the jungle. The predators follow them too. They often come into contact with local villagers, causing human-wildlife conflict. It is a vicious cycle that affects the environment and ecosystem, vital for life.
City planning
In urbanisation, city planning is vital. With the help of technology, things are improving. Where the process of bill payment was tedious and time-consuming, now it is easy and convenient. Bill payment is possible any time from anywhere using a computer or smartphone. It enhanced the revenue collection. The results are visible. It has fairly well checked corruption and enhanced the efficiencies in government offices which were infamous for it.
Electricity
Although governments are making efforts, the state of electricity is still unsatisfactory. Electricity can’t be stored, except for a few appliances where power is stored in batteries. The current electricity has to be used straight from the powerhouse to the tail end. The paraphernalia of power distribution is still in shambles. A lot of electricity is wasted as line loss. Transformers are incapable of catering to increasing demands. They often catch fire due to overheating, causing uncomfortable outages in cities. The summer power cut is hellish in pigeonhole-type small dwellings where cross-ventilation is also a problem. Denizens face frequent and prolonged power cuts.
Urbanisation: Power generation
Electricity generation also needs production enhancement. Total annual power consumption in populous states like Uttar Pradesh was 162858.1 Million Units (MU) in 2025-26, which is a 113% increase over the last 12 years. Similarly, average daily consumption increased from 209.8 MU to 445.7 MU. More than two fold hike in daily power consumption speaks volumes. This needs a robust system to tackle the gargantuan problem of undeclared power cuts, which adversely affect agriculture and trade, besides causing hardships to city people.
Solar power
PM Surya Ghar scheme fairly suppliments the electricity requirement. Government provide rooftop solar panels to install on the roof of houses at subsidised rates. It is a unique method of converting solar radiation to electricity, which can be used for domestic consumption and surplus power goes to grid and help in reducing power bill of the household. India is a tropical country where sunlight is in plenty for most of the year except for monsoons. The solar power is green energy with zero emission, low maintenance and pocket friendly. The more and more solar panels may cause hindrance in air flow and cause creating hot air pockets that may increase atmosphere temperature which becomes already high during summer because of excessive use of air-conditioners. Nonetheless, out of other available alternative source of energy, the solar energy is more clean, hassel free and easy to use.
Cities are economic hub
Cities have now become power centres and economic hubs. Increasing industrialisation has made the demand for raw materials and the transportation of prepared goods are the major economic activities. It helps in employment generation and self-sufficiency. Infrastructure plays a pivotal role in the rolling economy of the area and the country. It is good that progress and developments are in synergy with environment and ecology. It is well tuned to India’s tradition, culture and heritage.
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores life’s deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Nature’s Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1,200–1,500 words or more regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling intersect.
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