Parliamentary panel recommends high-level committee to assess India’s urban infra needs

Citing the absence of an integrated long-term urban investment and strategy framework, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has recommended that the government constitute a High-Level Expert Committee to comprehensively assess India’s urban infrastructure requirements, financing needs, governance reforms, and capacity-building imperatives up to 2047.

In its report submitted in both Houses of Parliament on Thursday (March 12, 2026), the Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs has argued that the absence of such a framework may lead to fragmented planning, poor resource allocation, and financing stress in the future.

Sector-specific programmes

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs said in its submissions before the committee that various ongoing missions — such as AMRUT 2.0 (tap water supply and sewerage), SBM-U 2.0 (toilets and solid waste), PMAY-U 2.0 (housing), Metro Rail projects, and PM e-Bus Seva — are improving the quality of life in Indian cities, and supporting the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

The committee, however, noted that these flagship programmes remain largely scheme-driven and sector-specific.

The Ministry also referred to the 2022 report, “Cities as Engines of Growth”, by NITI Aayog and Asian Development Bank (ADB), which highlights the strong correlation between urbanisation and GDP growth.

No evaluation beyond 2030

The most recent comprehensive urban infrastructure assessment was conducted by a High Powered Expert Committee (HPEC) committee in 2011, covering projections only up to 2031, and predicting that 75% of Indians will live in cities by 2030. No updated national-level evaluation exists for demands beyond 2030, the panel noted.

In this situation, the parliamentary panel recommended that the Ministry constitute a new High-Level Expert Committee to comprehensively assess urban needs up to 2047. A forward-looking and evidence-based roadmap will enable coordinated planning, better fiscal preparedness, and balanced urban development across metropolitan, Tier-II, and Tier-III cities, it added.