Cities need autonomy, elected mayors to handle urban growth: NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba has underscored the need for sweeping governance reforms in India's urban centres, arguing that cities cannot be effectively administered from state capitals. Speaking on the challenges of rapid urbanisation, Gauba stressed that local civic bodies require substantial autonomy and resources to address the mounting pressures of urban growth.

The senior policy official has advocated for the introduction of directly elected mayors with genuine decision-making authority, a departure from the current system where urban governance often remains subordinate to state-level administration. Gauba also called for comprehensive planning reforms to enable cities to respond swiftly to demographic changes and infrastructure demands.

His intervention highlights growing concerns within policy circles about India's readiness to absorb its expanding urban population. Demographic projections indicate that India's cities will absorb a significantly larger share of the national population over the coming years, placing immense pressure on existing civic infrastructure and services.

The push for greater municipal autonomy reflects a broader recognition that centralised decision-making has constrained the ability of cities to tackle local challenges ranging from water supply and sanitation to transportation and housing. Strengthening the financial base of urban local bodies is seen as critical to ensuring cities can invest in necessary infrastructure without dependency on state or central government allocations.