Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

The <keyword id="50190" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="asian-development-bank" source="Orion">Asian Development Bank</keyword> (ADB) has approved a USD 400 million loan to support the Indian government's <keyword id="706405" type="General" weightage="40" keywordseo="urban-reform" source="Orion">urban reform</keyword> agenda for creating high-quality <keyword id="557969" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="urban-infrastructure" source="Orion">urban infrastructure</keyword> and efficient governance systems. The programme also envisages integrated urban planning reforms to control urban sprawls and foster systemic and planned urbanisation through enhancing the entire ecosystem of legal, regulatory, and institutional reforms along with capacity building of ULBs and community awareness, ADB said. "The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 400 million policy-based loan to India for Sub-programme 2 of the <keyword id="8174895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sustainable-Urban-Development" source="Orion">Sustainable Urban Development</keyword> and Service Delivery Programme. "The programme aims to support the government's urban reform agenda for improving the quality of urban life through the creation of high-quality urban infrastructure, assured public services, and efficient governance systems," ADB said. While Subprogramme 1, approved in 2021, established national-level policies and guidelines to improve urban services, Subprogramme 2 is supporting investment planning and reform actions at the state and urban local body (ULB) levels. "India has recognised the potential for cities to be centres of economic growth and has emphasised the need to make cities livable through inclusive, resilient, and sustainable infrastructure, which is also in line with ADB Strategy 2030," ADB Principal Urban Development Specialist <keyword id="86074" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sanjay-Joshi" source="Orion">Sanjay Joshi</keyword> said.

ADB approves $400 mn loan to support govt's urban reform agenda

A study conducted by industry body Progress, Harmony and Development Chamber of Commerce and Industry (<keyword id="221860" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="PHDCCI">PHDCCI</keyword>) has revealed that the Narendra Modi government needs Rs 26 lakh crore for the next five years in order to finance <keyword id="17408" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="infrastructure">infrastructure</keyword> projects for its ‘<keyword id="6354869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="make-in-India">Make in India</keyword>’ initiative and a growth rate of 7-8%. 
 
The study also said that there is a need to further relax investment norms for pension funds and insurance firms so that their capital can be used to finance infrastructure projects. 
 
"Of the estimated Rs 26 lakh crore for infrastructure projects, close to 80% will be needed for the power, roads and urban infrastructure. In urban infrastructure, municipal bodies are likely to need significant investments for constructing urban roads, expanding transport and revamping water supply and sewerage infrastructure," said Alok B Shriram, president, PHD Chamber. 
 
“In urban infrastructure, municipal bodies are likely to need significant investments for constructing urban roads, expanding its transport and revamping water supply and sewerage infrastructure,” the study showed. 
 
The study also noted that 70% of the amount required for infrastructure financing need to be funded through debt and up to 14% may come through external commercial borrowings. Rest of the amount can be obtained through bonds.

India Needs Rs 26 lakh Crore In 5 Years To Fund Infra Projects

<keyword id="6521786" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Urban-planning">Urban planning</keyword> and its execution at present in India can at best be described as being rudimentary. The rains and the ‘urban floods’ that one sees in cities as distant as Mumbai and Gurgaon are living examples of the urban experience in India. The purpose is not to demean or demotivate architects and urban planners and their enormous contribution since India’s Independence. However, it is to bring to the fore the fact that citizens’ experience within cities is not pleasant in most cities in India today. Part of the problem has to do with the massive influx of people and the inability of the cities’ <keyword id="17408" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="infrastructure">infrastructure</keyword> to cater to this influx. However, part of it also has to do with the inability of state and the private sector to provide services while having a rent-seeking mentality. 
 
The first of these problems/opportunities that exist is with respect to urban housing and allied urban services. It includes not only delivery of quality housing to value conscious people moving to cities but also looking at fulfilling other related and allied services. It also includes the provision of gas supply, electricity supply, and water supply. The range of services can either be public or private. However, the major point is the delivery of these services at competitive rates for value-conscious consumers. 
 
Secondly, roads, mobility platforms/systems, etc. that form major infrastructure elements within Indian cities need to be designed/ maintained properly. These along with waste are often not accorded the attention that they deserve in India especially with the kind of urban density that Indian cities have. Drainage and sanitation are often an issue in the rainy season that causes several water-borne diseases. Proper sewage disposal, drainage systems as well as fully functional waste collection system as it leaves individual houses are crucial for building a healthy city. 
 Third, most Indian cities are without lungs. It is because most of them do not have proper landscape planning and a functional mechanism for the preservation of trees. India’s cities are the one of the most polluted cities in the world. According to a recent report by the World Bank, the economic impact of the ambient air <keyword id="13001" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="pollution">pollution</keyword> in India is as high as atleast1.6% of its GDP. The problems of asthma and other lung related ailments are precisely due to the ‘lack of lungs’ in the cities along with air pollution. 
 
Fourth, mobility options within a city are often limited and problematic. These relate to end-to-end mobility choices within cities that are safe, comfortable as well as cost effective. Mass transit systems work wonders in dense urban locations but can be a nightmare to design and implement. Choices like collective biking for people who reside close to their workplaces can also contribute to a healthy city. Also, real-time information within cities is critical for making quick decisions. It includes not just the GPS system for directional navigation but also information about traffic flows that could prevent congestion and lead to productivity gains and an efficient city. 
 
Finally, while designing and building cities of the future one has to look carefully at the workplaces and commercial spaces within the city. These form the economic engine within a city. As the middle class in India increases further, these are bound to take greater prominence within cities. 
 
Over the next two decades, these broad areas should be focused on to mitigate the adverse effects of India’s burgeoning urban population and build more livable cities. It will not only enable systematic urban development but also help in making urban reality a pleasant experience in India. 
 
(The article is co-authored with Sankalp Sharma, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Competitiveness, India. Amit Kapoor is Chair, Institute for Competitiveness &amp; Editor of Thinkers. The views expressed are personal. Amit can be reached at <a href="mailto:amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in">amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in</a> and tweets @kautiliya)

Making Future Indian Cities more Livable

Prime Minister <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Narendra+Modi+">Narendra Modi </a>will announce the first batch of 20 smart cities early January. 
 
"Evaluation of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=smart+city">smart city </a>plans of 97 cities in the second stage of 'City Challenge' competition is already in progress and the results will be announced shortly marking a high point in promoting competition among cities for resource allocation, the first of its kind," a Ministry of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Urban+Development">Urban Development</a> press release read. 
 
The Modi government has apparently reset the parameters for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=urban+planning">urban planning</a>. It has approved an investment of about Rs 42,000 Crores in 2015 for developing basic urban infrastructure and for affordable housing . 
 
The investment includes Rs 19,170 Crores for improving infrastructure relating to water supply, sewerage networks, storm water drains, urban transport and open spaces in 474 cities in 18 states under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

PM Modi to announce 20 smart cities in January

<div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image">Mark Lyons/Getty ImagesPresident-elect Donald Trump.</div></div></div>In late January, Donald Trump will become the president of the United States. One major piece of his plan for the new administration is spending $1 trillion on infrastructure.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-campaign-1-trillion-infrastructure-plan-with-no-tax-hike-2016-10">Released</a> in October, <a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/an-americas-infrastructure-first-plan">Trump's infrastructure plan</a> outlines his administration's policy wishes for things like water systems and <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="transportation">transportation</keyword> for the next four years.If approved by Congress, it will be <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/12/a-major-infrastructure-bill-clears-congress/418827/">the largest</a> infrastructure package in a decade.Trump budgets $1 trillion largely for highway, waterway, airport, pipeline, and bridge projects. Emphasizing $140 billion in tax cuts to private-sector investors, it "is in the proud tradition of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who championed the interstate highway system," his campaign <a href="https://www.donaldjtrump.com/policies/an-americas-infrastructure-first-plan">writes</a>.Business Insider asked a number of architects and urban planners for their recommendations on how Trump's administration should spend the $1 trillion.Here are some of the projects they'd like to see.

How Trump should spend $1 trillion on America's infrastructure, according to architects and urban planners

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="736063" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="green-infrastructure" source="Orion">Green infrastructure</keyword> can help <keyword id="6399501" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="cities" source="Orion">cities</keyword> solve climate problems and promote the health of residents.</li><li>Things like urban greenery can also offer environmental, social, and economic benefits to a city.</li></ul>Setting ordinances to build more green roofs, planting trees and native plants, and designing community green spaces are just a few ways that many cities are investing in green infrastructure to solve climate-related problems and promote the health of residents. Expanding <a href="https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/performance-green-infrastructure">greenery in urban areas</a>, for example, helps cities manage stormwater, reduce energy use, improve air quality, enhance the quality of life of residents, reduce the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/reduce-urban-heat-island-effect">urban heat island effect</a>, and boost local economies. <div type="image" title="headshot of Gail Hansen" height="1620" width="2160" msid="90573725" hostid="261"></div>"A lot of cities are becoming more concerned with environmental stressors that climate change is bringing," such as sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and more intense tornadoes and storms, <a href="https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/faculty-profiles/gail-hansen/">Gail Hansen</a>, an associate professor at the University of Florida's Environmental Horticulture Department, told Insider."One big trend is resilient city plans, and using green infrastructure is a big part of those plans to protect cities from these stressors," she added. Last year, 31 mayors of cities, including Los Angeles, New Orleans, Seattle, and Austin, signed the <a href="https://www.c40.org/declarations/urban-nature-declaration/">C40 Urban Nature Declaration</a> to show their commitment to green infrastructure. The cities pledged to convert up to 40% of city surfaces to green or blue, that's water-related features, infrastructure by 2030 — including trees, urban forests, <keyword id="6516786" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="ponds" source="Orion">ponds</keyword>, and <keyword id="6364482" type="General" weightage="60" keywordseo="parks" source="Orion">parks</keyword> with sustainable drainage systems — and ensure that 70% of their residents have access to green or blue public areas, such as wetlands or ponds, within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. "Cities have to be very future thinking," Hansen said. Those invested in green infrastructure can become environmentally healthier and more resilient, which provides opportunities for residents and economies to thrive. <h2>Green roofs and other infrastructure are becoming a focus for cities </h2>One green-infrastructure trend is a <a href="https://www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-green-roofs">green roof</a>, which is a layer of vegetation planted over a waterproofing system atop a building. Plants absorb rainwater, preventing it from running off the roof's surface and potentially causing flooding. <div type="image" title="man standing in a green forest" height="488" width="651" msid="90573726" hostid="261"></div>"Cities are seeing their green roofs as an opportunity to provide a variety of infrastructure benefits to help us future-proof our cities against climate change," said <a href="https://greenroofs.org/steven-peck">Steven Peck</a>, the founder and president of <a href="http://www.greenroofs.org">Green Roofs for Healthy Cities</a>.The benefits include providing shade, cutting a building's energy use, and reducing the surrounding air and surface temperatures, according to the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/heatislands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands">US Environmental Protection Agency</a>. Green-roof temperatures can be up to 40 degrees Fahrenheit lower than traditional roofs and reduce citywide temperatures by about five degrees. Managing heat islands creates more equitable communities, as low-income areas tend to suffer most from overheating, which results in poorer air quality and diminished health, Peck added. Chicago has been a <a href="http://wendycitychicago.com/chicago-green-roofs/">leader in green-roof installations</a> in the US, with <a href="https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dcd/supp_info/chicago_green_roofs.html">more than 500</a> such roofs in the city. <a href="https://sfplanning.org/project/better-roofs">San Francisco</a>, <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/buildings/pdf/green_roof_solar_ll92-n-94of2019_sn.pdf">New York City</a>, and <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/7eb7-Toronto-Green-Roof-Construction-Standard-Supplementary-Guidelines.pdf">Toronto</a> also have ordinances requiring green roofs for some new and renovated buildings. Peck said green roofing that incorporates biodiversity — where plants are used to attract insects, birds, and wildlife — is an emerging trend. The <a href="https://javitscenter.com/en/sustainability/">green roof at the Javits Center</a> in New York is an example, as it's home to honeybees and several species of birds and bats. Biodiversity in other green spaces <a href="https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13475">encourages wildlife habits</a> and promotes cleaner air and water, Hansen said. Some projects feature native plants to strengthen the local ecosystems, and trees and urban forests boost biodiversity and provide tree-canopy coverage. <a href="https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/3633">Biophilic design</a> is also being incorporated in green landscaping projects, Hansen said. Biophilia refers to people's innate need for nature, and Hansen said city governments see adding parks, walking and biking trails, and greenery that are all easily accessible as a way to boost residents' physical and mental health. "A lot of cities are thinking about ways to create opportunities for people to have more recreational spaces where they can interact with nature, even if it's a little pocket park," she said. "They're also looking at how these landscapes can meet the needs of diverse cultures in a community." Phoenix, St. Louis, Miami, and Washington, DC, are some of the metros that are part of the <a href="https://www.biophiliccities.org/partner-cities">Biophilic Cities network</a>, showing their commitment to improving the connection between residents and nature. <h2>Green infrastructure offers environmental, social, and economic benefits</h2>Urban greenery filters air and water, which makes communities healthier, Hansen said. Research showed that increasing access to green spaces <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanplh/PIIS2542-5196(19)30215-3.pdf">decreased mortality</a>, and that urban green spaces <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-46099-7">reduced stress</a> and improved mental and physical health. Green infrastructure also boosts local economies by encouraging tourism dollars and attracting developers. Buildings with green roofs, for example, eliminate problems like flooding and excess heat, and they add recreational space. Peck said adding amenities and making properties more sustainable could increase property values and attract residents and businesses. Transforming old industrial structures and sites, such as abandoned rail systems, into parks could help cities revitalize areas and drive economic development, Hansen said. She cited New York's <a href="https://www.thehighline.org/">High Line</a>, a linear park and trail system built on a former railroad line, as an example. Some of the challenges cities face in implementing these projects include funding, stakeholder and community buy-in, and outdated city codes and ordinances, Hansen said. She added that some were overcoming the challenges by creating public-private partnerships and using data to show how green infrastructure benefits the city and its residents. Still, incorporating green infrastructure into their resiliency plans is imperative for cities, she said, adding, "It's almost become a must-have for cities to figure out how they're going to weather — no pun intended — a lot of these big issues."

How investing in green infrastructure helps cities manage the effects of the climate crisis and creates healthy communities

<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Venkaiah+Naidu&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Venkaiah Naidu</a>, Union Minister of Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation have confirmed that <keyword id="4231679" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="housing-approvals">housing approvals</keyword> in <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Delhi&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Delhi</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Mumbai&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Mumbai</a> will come within 60 days. The notification for the model approval process in Delhi and Mumbai is expected soon. 
 In an interview with <keyword id="691108" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="MagicBricks">Magicbricks</keyword>, he said that there will be an online process through which applications will be sent and approvals will come in 60 days. Even in some case, if that approval doesn’t come through, the owner or developer can file an affidavit and start construction. Efforts are on to implement the process across the country. 
 
He also thinks that the whole country needs to follow this and trying to implement this, the centre has invited all states for a discussion on these issues on February 28, 2017 in Delhi. 
 
Metropolises such as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Bengaluru&amp;sortorder=effectivedate">Bengaluru</a>, Pune and Noida are under scrutiny and comprehensive plans are being drawn to build better infrastructure. The Centre is facilitating creation of funds for urban local bodies in states to make cities more livable. 
 "We are taking into account the water supply, roads, etc., and creating a five-year development plan," <keyword id="6362898" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="naidu">Naidu</keyword> told Magicbricks, while talking about <keyword id="6354321" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword>, Pune and Noida. State participation is key to achieving adequate infrastructure and infrastructure is the essence of realising the 'Housing for All 2022' dream. 
 
Naidu said that affordable housing will be a success only when states perform. Around 23,000 houses lie vacant in Delhi alone because of lack of infrastructure. 
 
"Where there are people there are no houses and now there are houses with nobody residing in them. It is a grave problem," said Naidu. 
 
The main infrastructure concern areas are drainage, sewage, main roads, byroads, rain water drainage, maintenance of water bodies, etc. 
It is a joint effort by the Centre, states and local bodies.

Housing approvals will soon come within 60 days in Delhi and Mumbai

<keyword id="3354534" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Fairwood-Group">Fairwood Group</keyword>, the group of companies in three business sectors of mobility, energy and urbanization, is banking on government's ambitious plan to develop 100 smart cities, for which it has partnered with six leading Chinese companies. The move is aimed at tapping the business potential in infrastructure, and with the tie-up, the group aims at projects worth USD 20 billion in the next eight years. 
 The six Chinese companies are <keyword id="3354964" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shanghai-Tongji-Urban-Planning-Design-Institute">Shanghai Tongji Urban Planning &amp; Design Institute</keyword>, <keyword id="3354965" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Shanghai-Maglev">Shanghai Maglev</keyword>, <keyword id="3354966" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="China-Rail-Construction-Corporation">China Rail Construction Corporation</keyword>, <keyword id="426187" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="China-Harbour-Engineering-Company">China Harbour Engineering Company</keyword>, <keyword id="3354967" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="China-Communication-Construction-Company">China Communication Construction Company</keyword>, and <keyword id="3354968" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Beijing-Origin-Water-Company">Beijing Origin Water Company</keyword>. 
 
"These companies are specialised in urban planning, engineering, railway, construction, communications and water management and will add to our strength of planning and execution of infrastructure projects. We are eyeing a business share of USD 20 billion in infrastructure and urbanisation in India in next 8 years," Fairwood Group's Managing Director RS Das said. 
 
As per the claims, they have executed marquee projects like preparation of Delhi Vision 2021; Development Plan for Bihar, Assam, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, West Bengal; Mahindra Data Centre, Mumbai; Tell Moreeb Resort, Abu Dhabi etc. 
 
"Our plan for the future is to grow the core expertise of project development in our chosen verticals to contribute in the nation building efforts of the government. We would like to bring in a paradigm shift while doing this so that the future development in India is sustainable and appropriate to the nation's needs," Das said. 
 
<a href="http://www.fairwoodpmc.com/images/about-2.jpg">Image source</a>

Eyeing $20 billion infra business, Fairwood Group ties up with six Chinese companies

<keyword id="2783177" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Budget-2016">Budget 2016</keyword> is less than a month away, and for Finance Minister <keyword id="42575" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Arun-Jaitley">Arun Jaitley</keyword>, the road ahead, to redefine India's infrastructure, has become tougher. 
 "There are businesses that we have been in and the investments we are talking about are strategic investments. Idea for example will launch even more aggressively its 4G service. Our retail business will continue to aggressively expand so it is not so dependent on what is happening in the global economy. I think that the government needs to focus on infrastructure and I am hoping that coming Budget will accelerate very significantly the allocation for urban infrastructure," <keyword id="423824" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="KM-Birla">KM Birla</keyword>, chairman of <keyword id="44373" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Aditya-Birla-Group">Aditya Birla Group</keyword>, told ET. 
 
While the Railway Budget comes out on February 25, the Eco Survey would be presented on February 26 and Union Budget on February 29.

KM Birla thinks budget 2016 needs to reboot infrastructure

The <keyword id="6360789" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Modi-Government">Modi government</keyword>’s plan to develop 100 <keyword id="6377036" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="smart-cities">smart cities</keyword> has stirred a debate on its strategy or lack of it on the fate of the existing cities in the country. 
 
Over the years, lack of infrastructure and unplanned growth turned Indian cities into a real mess. While urbanisation has enhanced economic, social and political progress, it has resulted in socio-economic mismatch among people. Also, rapid growth of urban population has put enormous pressure on public utilities like housing, sanitation, transport, water and electricity besides pushing unemployment among rural immigrants. Urbanisation deserves immediate attention as according to reports by 2030, more than 50 % of India’s population is expected to live in urban areas. 
 
Urban sprawl, the expansion of the cities in terms of population and geographical area (which is rapidly taking over the precious agricultural land) has been one of the key problems which authorities failed to tackle. Continuous immigration from rural areas has consistently added to the size of the cities. This has led to a situation where economic base of most cities is incapable of dealing with the problems created by the huge growth of urban population. Metro cities are clear examples urban sprawl due to large scale migration of people from the different states, seeking employment opportunities. 
 
Unplanned growth has also resulted in overcrowding—a situation where too many people live in too little space. For instance, Mumbai has one-sixth of an acre open space per thousand people though four acre is considered normal. This kind of overcrowding leads to heavy pressure on infrastructural facilities. 
 
Overcrowding leads to shortage of houses in urban areas. Housing is a bigger issue in those cities where there is large influx of immigrants. According to a recent study, around 40% of all married couples in India do not have an independent room for themselves. Around 35% of families in urban areas live in one-room houses. About one third of urban Indian families have houses without a proper kitchen, bathroom and a toilet—and there is no supply of water or power in some cases. 
 
Overcrowded cities are a breeding ground for unemployment. According to an estimate, about 50% of all urban unemployed who are educated are concentrated in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Though those living in cities earn more than those in the villages, their incomes are low considering the high cost of living in urban pockets. Unless government streamlines the large-scale migration to cities, unemployment in cities will continue to rise. 
 Another consequence of unplanned growth of urban areas is the spread of <keyword id="6367743" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="slums">slums</keyword>. In the recent years, industrialisation has led to rapid urbanisation which has resulted in undeterred growth of slums. 
 
A slew of reasons such as the large influx of rural migrants to the cities, the shortage of land for housing development and high prices of land contribute to the growth of slums. No wonder, this has been exerting huge pressure on civic amenities and infrastructure. 
Inadequate transportation is another challenge faced by people living in cities. As cities grow, more people are required to travel to work or shop, leading to clogged roads and unending traffic jams. 
 
Scarcity of drinking water is perhaps the biggest challenge thrown up by haphazard development of cities in India. In fact, no city in India gets sufficient water to meet the needs of city dwellers. In many cities, people get water from the municipal sources for less than half an hour every alternative day. In dry summer season, taps remain dry for days together. 
 
This in addition to growing problems of lack of proper sewerage management, trash disposal and pollution besides surging crime rates in cities. It is high time the government figured out whether developing select smart cities or solving the litany of problems faced by people living in existing cities should be its priority. 
 
Image: thinkstock

Smart Cities Are Good Idea, But What About Existing Ones?

New Delhi, Jan 16 () GMR Infrastructure on Thursday said it will sell 49 per cent stake instead of 44.44 per cent in its airport business to Tata Group subsidiary TRIL Urban Transport, as the group continues with efforts to trim its debt.
 The diversified group has decided to increase the quantum of stake sale nearly 10 months after announcing the deal, which also received green signal from the Competition Commission of India (CCI)in October last year.
 In a filing to the stock exchanges, GMR Infrastructure said it has decided to "increase the transaction size by agreeing to divest 49 per cent in GMR Airports Limited (vs previously agreed 44.44 per cent) to TRIL Urban Transport Private Limited (part of TATA Group), an affiliate of GIC and SSG Capital Management... in one or more tranches".
 The deal would be subject to regulatory approvals.
 An amended and restated Shares Subscription and Purchase Agreement and Shareholders Agreement has been executed for the revised deal, according to the filing.
 GMR Group operates airports in New Delhi and Hyderabad. It also has stakes in Mactan-Cebu airport in the Philippines and Crete aerodrome in Greece.
 The transaction involves offloading stake in GMR Airports to TRIL Urban Transport Pvt Ltd, Valkyrie Investment and Solis Capital.
 Valkyrie is an affiliate of Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, while Solis is an investment vehicle of the SSG Group.
 In October, the CCI cleared the proposed transaction subject to certain modifications.
 According to the announcement made in March last year, the deal valued GMR Airports at over Rs 17,700 crore.
 Post-deal, GMR Infrastructure and subsidiaries would hold around 54 per cent stake in the airport arm, the consortium of new investors would own close to 45 per cent and the remaining would be with an employees welfare trust, as per the announcement.
 Shares of GMR Infrastructure closed marginally lower at Rs 23.85 on the BSE. RAM RVK

Now GMR Infra to sell 49 pc stake in airport biz to Tata Group subsidiary

New Delhi, Along with the sharp decline in poverty in <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="india" source="keywords">India</keyword>, there has also been a marked reduction in the rural-urban income divide in the country, according to an SBI Research analysis of a Consumer Expenditure Survey released on Tuesday. Rural Poverty has staged a significant 440-basis point decline since 2018-19 and <keyword id="20742154" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban-poverty" source="keywords">Urban Poverty</keyword> a 170-basis point decline post-pandemic, which shows that the government initiatives for promoting the welfare of the bottom of the pyramid are having a significant beneficial impact on rural livelihood, the report states. Rural Poverty is now at 7.2 per cent (25.7 per cent in 2011-12 while <keyword id="19945793" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="urban" source="keywords">Urban</keyword> Poverty is at 4.6 per cent (13.7 per cent in 2011-12), official data show. The report further states that India is becoming more aspirational as indicated by the increasing share of discretionary consumption (like spending on beverages, intoxicants, entertainment, durable goods, etc.) in rural and urban areas. The speed of aspiration is swifter in rural areas as compared to urban areas The SBI report states that the difference between rural and urban monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) is now at 71.2 per cent, a rapid decline from 88.2 per cent in 2009-10. Around 30 per cent of the Rural MPCE is explained mainly due to steps taken by the government in terms of DBT transfers, investments in building of rural infrastructures, augmenting farmer's income, all together improving the rural livelihood significantly. Enhanced physical infrastructure is enabling two-way rural-urban mobility, which is the prime reason for the incrementally shrinking horizontal income gap between the rural and urban landscape and the vertical income gap within rural Income classes, according to the SBI report. The states once considered laggards are showing the maximum improvement in rural and urban gap. States like Bihar, <keyword id="19894922" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="uttar-pradesh" source="keywords">Uttar Pradesh</keyword>, Madhya Pradesh are showing increasingly the impact of these factors, the report adds. The bottom half of the rural pyramid are now having consumption patterns mostly converging to urban counterparts. The report also states that revised MPCE weights in CPI computation could help India real GDP growth for FY24 to top 7.5 per cent. Other highlights: *Rural and Urban consumption are growing, on an average, at nearly the same growth rate (2.66 per cent for rural, 2.59 per cent for Urban) across classes. Using the statistical equivalent of <keyword id="20744250" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="gini-coefficient" source="keywords">Gini Coefficient</keyword>, Horizontal Consumption Inequality between Rural and Urban across fractiles has declined from 0.560 to 0.475 *Urban Rural gap as a percentage of rural consumption is on a declining trend. It has declined from 90.8 per cent in 2004-05 to 71.2 per cent in 2022-23 and we believe, is projected to further decrease to 65.1 per cent in 2029-30 *In the lowest segment, urban consumption is only 46 per cent more dissimilar than the rural counterpart. Across fractile classes, urban consumption is only 68 per cent more dissimilar than rural counterpart, a number much less than the all India average. This indicates the bottom half of the rural pyramid are now having MPCE patterns mostly converging to Urban counterparts.

You Searched For "urban infrastructure" and got 12 results

ADB approves $400 mn loan to support govt's urban reform agenda

PTI

India Needs Rs 26 lakh Crore In 5 Years To Fund Infra Projects

BI India Bureau

Making Future Indian Cities more Livable

Amit Kapoor

PM Modi to announce 20 smart cities in January

BI India Bureau

How Trump should spend $1 trillion on America's infrastructure, according to architects and urban planners

Leanna Garfield

How investing in green infrastructure helps cities manage the effects of the climate crisis and creates healthy communities

Erica Sweeney

Housing approvals will soon come within 60 days in Delhi and Mumbai

BI India Bureau

Eyeing $20 billion infra business, Fairwood Group ties up with six Chinese companies

BI India Bureau

KM Birla thinks budget 2016 needs to reboot infrastructure

BI India Bureau

Smart Cities Are Good Idea, But What About Existing Ones?

Preetam Kaushik

Now GMR Infra to sell 49 pc stake in airport biz to Tata Group subsidiary

PTI

India's rural-urban income gap declines sharply amid fall in poverty level: SBI Report

IANS

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides