India’s urban population has grown from 286 million in 2001 to 377 million in 2011, representing 31.16% of the country’s total population. This is estimated to further increase to about 800 million by the middle of the 21st Century. By then urban India will account for more than half of the country’s population. This explosive urban growth has created great pressure on Indian cities and towns, and thrown up big challenges for ‘Making Cities Work’. Since the past ten years, Municipalika has been instrumental in highlighting these challenges, evaluating options, and developing possible solutions and strategies.

According to latest reports by ministry of Urban Development, India needs an investment of Rs 39.2 trillion in infrastructure over the next 20 years. In the annual budget Rs 12.14 trillion is allocated to be spent on infrastructure for 2011-2012. Many initiatives are being undertaken by Central, State and Local/City Governments for addressing the urban challenges, the biggest and most ambitious being the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) of the Government of India, which aims at creating economically productive, efficient, equitable, inclusive, sustainable and responsive cities.

Municipalika provides a platform to take stock of the progress of urban development schemes to assess the possibilities and problems, and map future strategies and solutions.