From AMRUT to Smart Cities Mission: Governance Challenges and Opportunities in India's Urban Transformation

Following the 16th Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated two key sector-specific policies—AMRUT and Smart Cities Mission. These initiatives aimed to rejuvenate urban areas by building essential infrastructure, promoting sustainable development, and creating jobs. Drawing from the earlier JNNURM policy, government emphasized reforming state administrative structures through market-driven mechanisms. Public-Private Partnerships, decentralization, and ICT-powered models were employed to enhance local government capacity, boost cooperative federalism, and engage citizens in policy-making via digital metrics. This book delves into the complexities of these policy reforms, exploring how they aim to improve service delivery, generate economic growth, ensure efficient resource mobilization, and tackle governance challenges. It offers a comprehensive examination of the opportunities and obstacles in implementing India's modern urban policies.