Urban Service Delivery in India: Status and Issues
Riya Bhattacharya
Abstract
Urban areas in India are perpetually struggling to meet the services demanded by the proliferating population. However, policies and studies are traditionally focused on a few metropolitan cities. Conversely, population growth and economic activities began concentrating towards urban peripheries and areas beyond class I towns. These cities are undeniably crippled with various spatial, socio-economic, and political challenges that hinder local governments from effectively delivering basic services. Even after three decades of decentralisation, studies and reports reveal that urban local governments perform poorly in terms of providing basic service. In this context, the present paper, by reviewing various reports and studies, highlights that the present condition of service delivery in urban areas in general is rather ineffective while smaller cities in peripheries are performing worse and are subjected to various factors that differ across cities. Therefore, the paper further emphasises the need for a city-based study to help local bodies assess the peculiarities of each city, thereby aiding in the effective formulation and implementation of policies and plans.