How is the government transforming urban India?

New Delhi, Sep 15 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized on Monday how the government's dedicated efforts are paving the way for cleaner streets, better housing, faster Metro trains, and greener cities as a new urban India emerges.

In response to an article by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, the Prime Minister stated: “Indian cities are evolving into engines of growth! Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri highlights how the government's consistent efforts are leading to cleaner streets, better housing, faster Metros, and greener cities.

The minister noted that “Indian cities are on the verge of becoming modern yet humane, ambitious yet inclusive, global in perspective yet grounded in our cultural values.”

He added, “As we demand more from our cities, we must also recognize how far we have come. For decades post-Independence, India’s urban areas were often neglected. Jawaharlal Nehru’s admiration for Soviet-style centralization resulted in structures like Shastri Bhavan and Udyog Bhavan, which became crumbling concrete monoliths by the 1990s, symbols of bureaucracy rather than service.

“By the 2010s, central Delhi was in a grim state: potholed roads, dreary and leaky government buildings, and peripheral roads in the National Capital Region (NCR) were perpetually congested. Expressways were few, and Metro services were limited to a few cities, while civic infrastructure was visibly deteriorating. A nation aspiring for global leadership had a capital city that exhibited neglect.”

He continued, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi altered this course. He positioned cities at the core of the national development agenda, viewing them not as burdens to be managed but as engines of growth and sources of pride. The transformation is evident everywhere. The Central Vista redevelopment has turned Kartavya Path into a public space, the new Parliament building into a future-ready institution, and Kartavya Bhawan into an efficient governance hub. Where decay once reigned, ambition and confidence now flourish.”

The magnitude of this change is supported by statistics. Between 2004 and 2014, total central investment in India’s urban sector was approximately ₹1.57 lakh crore. Since 2014, this amount has surged to nearly ₹28.5 lakh crore, marking a 16-fold increase. This unprecedented financial commitment is rapidly transforming the urban landscape at a speed India has never experienced before, Puri stated.

“India’s broader economic and digital growth fuels this momentum. Today, we stand as the world’s fourth-largest economy at roughly $4.2 trillion, with digital advancements powering daily life. The Metro revolution exemplifies the transformation on the ground. In 2014, India had around 248 km of operational Metro spanning five cities. Currently, over 1,000 km extend across more than 23 cities, serving over one crore passengers daily. Numerous new corridors are under construction, from Pune and Nagpur to Surat and Agra, making urban commutes faster, cleaner, and safer. This is not merely steel and concrete; it translates to reduced travel times, cleaner air, and millions of hours of productivity restored to citizens.”

“Urban connectivity has been redefined. NCR’s congested peripheries are being alleviated by the newly launched Urban Extension Road II, connecting NH-44, NH-9, and Dwarka Expressway to relieve traffic at chronic bottlenecks. India’s inaugural Regional Rapid Transit System (Delhi–Meerut) is already operational on key segments and nearing full commissioning, cutting end-to-end travel to under an hour. These high-speed, integrated systems are establishing a new metropolitan logic for a new India,” the minister added.