VISION FOR A RESILIENT URBAN INDIA: Building Sustainable and Future-Ready Cities

 

The book explores one of the most important questions confronting India’s future: how can cities become more resilient, inclusive, sustainable, and adaptive amidst rapid urban transformation, climate uncertainty, technological change, and evolving development aspirations? As urban areas emerge as the principal engines of economic growth, innovation, and development, strengthening their capacity to anticipate, adapt to, and thrive amidst change has become central to India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat@2047.
Bringing together contributions from eminent policymakers, administrators, practitioners, academics, and domain experts, this volume examines the multiple dimensions of urban resilience through fourteen thematic chapters covering climate-responsive planning, governance systems, resilient infrastructure, housing, livelihoods, resource management, water security, technology and data systems, urban finance, mobility, and pathways for future-ready urban development.
A central theme of the volume is that resilient urban development cannot be achieved through government action alone. It requires a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society approach that brings together public institutions, the private sector, academia, civil society, communities, and citizens. The book highlights the importance of collaborative action, innovative financing, technological advancement, institutional capacity, and effective governance in building adaptive, sustainable, and future-ready cities.

“Resilience extends beyond disaster response and represents the capacity to anticipate, adapt, and transform amidst evolving shocks and stresses.  Achieving resilient futures requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach rooted in collaboration, innovation, and sustainable development.”

“Urban India @ 2047 calls for cities that are resilient, adaptive, and anti-fragile, capable of sustaining growth while enhancing quality of life and environmental sustainability. This volume contributes to the shared vision of building a sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready Urban India.”

“As India navigates one of the world’s most dramatic urban transitions, the book Vision for a Resilient Urban India provides a timely and insightful roadmap for addressing the opportunities as well as challenges of its urban future. This forward-looking volume offers valuable perspectives on how to build resilient, inclusive and environmentally sustainable cities in an era of rapid urban transformation, climate change, and technological innovations in the world’s largest democratic nation.”

“Urban resilience is emerging as a defining principle of India’s urban transformation. By bringing together perspectives from policy, practice, and academia, this publication seeks to inform pathways towards resilient, sustainable, and future-ready cities.”