Mathur Ritika Passi

full city focus was lacking. The emergence
of new challenges in cities is likely to
have been an important reason for the
formulation of SDG 11. SDG 11 has
10 targets, and 33 indicators have been
proposed. It is envisaged that governments
will successfully work towards achieving
the goal by accomplishing targets and
monitoring the status of various indicators
under each target. A review of SDG 11
targets will help in understanding the
scope of the goal. Essentially, the need to
efficiently plan and govern various urban
sectors (i.e., housing, basic infrastructure
and services, transport, heritage, disasters,
environment, green spaces, etc.) and
address needs of vulnerable sections of the
society have been emphasised.
Relevance for India
SDG 11 has immense relevance for India,
where cities are experiencing a high degree
of growth. Between 2001 and 2011, the
number of cities/urban agglomerations
(UAs) with population of over one million
increased from 35 to 53, and there are
nearly 500 Class I cities/UAs with at least
100,000 habitants. 3 Increasing population
densities pose numerous challenges for the
governing institutions. Accordingly, key
reform measures have been initiated by
the Indian government to respond to the
challenges of urbanisation. Many of these
measures are directly concerned with the
targets set under SDG 11, as shown below.
To a great extent, SDG 11 and urban goals
set by the Indian government are similar.
Convergence between SDG 11 Targets
and Indian Needs
Target 11.1
The urban housing deficit in India stands
at about 20 million dwelling units. Much
of this deficit (95%) pertains to the
economically weaker sections and low
income groups. 4 Non-availability of houses
for the poor has led to a growth of slums.
Census data shows that the country’s slum
population amounting to 65.49 million
in 2011 has shown an increase by 25%
during 2001-11. However, their share in
the country’s total urban population has
actually come down from 18.3% to 17.4%
during the same period. The data further
reveals that living conditions in most
slums are unsatisfactory, evident from the
low (or non-) availability of various basic
services. For example, 43% of households
do not have any main source of drinking
water within premises, while 34% do not
have toilets within premises. 5 In 2015,
the National Mission for Urban Housing,
which aims at providing housing for all
by 2022, was launched by the Ministry of
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation
under which financial and technical
assistance will be provided by the Centre to
the state/local government agencies for the
construction of new houses as well as insitu
rehabilitation of existing slum dwellers.
Priority will be laid on adoption of modern,
innovative, low-cost, disaster resistant and
green technologies and building material.
Initially the scheme will focus on 500 Class
I cities and later extend to various statutory
towns.
Target 11.2
Indian cities display numerous mobilityrelated
problems, including severe
deficiencies in pedestrian and public
transport facilities, phenomenal growth of
private motor vehicles, traffic congestion
and high vehicular emissions. This is
particularly noted from the conditions
prevailing in India’s national capital,
which recorded 8.3 million motor vehicles
in 2014, 6 and where the air pollution
levels are among the highest in the world.
INDIAN CITIES DISPLAY A NUMBER
OF MOBILITY-RELATED PROBLEMS,
SUCH AS SEVERE DEFICIENCIES
IN PEDESTRIAN AND PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES,
PHENOMENAL GROWTH OF PRIVATE
MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC
CONGESTION.
Further, an analysis of data on registered
motor vehicles in India shows high
concentration (32%) in metropolitan
cities. 7 To address mobility needs of city
residents, two major public transportation
initiatives are underway. First, Rapid Rail
Systems (Metro) are being laid down with
the support of the Urban Development
Ministry in various Indian cities, including
Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon,
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