According to PM Modi, the nation's fate will be determined by well-planned cities.

According to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had 75 planned cities been built since India's independence, the country's standing in the world would have been entirely different. He also claimed that well-planned metropolitan areas would decide the nation's future.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Wednesday that if 75 planned cities had been built since India's independence, the country's standing in the world would have been entirely different. He also stated that the nation's future depends on well-organized urban areas.

Only one or two organized cities have been established in the nation in the 75 years since India's independence, according to Modi, who spoke at a post-budget webinar on "Urban Planning, Development, and Sanitation."

"Bad planning or lack of adequate implementation of plans might generate significant obstacles in the development journey of India," he stated.

"The future of our cities in the Amrit Kaal will be decided by urban planning, and only well-planned cities will decide the fate of India. He continued that our cities will only become water-secure and climate-resilient with greater planning.

The Center has scheduled several post-Budget webinars to gather thoughts and proposals for the successful execution of the measures announced in the Union Budget for the upcoming fiscal year, 2023–2024.

The housing and urban affairs ministry organized Wednesday's webinar, the sixth in a series of 12, and the ministry of forest, environment, and climate change shared leadership.

According to the prime minister, the government's focus has been on carefully planned urban growth.

New city development and system modernization in aging cities are the two main facets of urban development. Our government has prioritized urban development in each Budget with this aim. He said a $15,000 crore incentive for urban development had been declared in this Budget, and it will encourage planned urbanization.

Modi emphasized the importance of boosting investment in Tier 2 and 3 cities. He stated that for our future cities to be waste-free, climate resilient, and water secure, we must invest more in urban infrastructure and planning in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

The Center proposed allocating 10,000 crores for an Urban Infrastructure Development Fund (UIDF) to build infrastructure in Tier two and three cities in the Union Budget.

According to Modi, the definition of future cities should consider factors like architecture, a zero-discharge model, net positive energy, efficient land use, transit corridors, and the use of artificial intelligence in public services.

He requested specialists in urban development to concentrate on three crucial areas:

Improving the state-level urban planning ecosystem.

We are utilizing the experience of the private sector in urban planning.

It is creating centers of excellence that can advance urban planning.

The prime minister also emphasized the necessity for greater transportation planning in cities. He claimed that since 2014, when his government first took office, metro connectivity has increased and that India now outperforms many other nations in this regard.

In various locations, our government has endeavored to provide metro connectivity. In terms of metro networks, we currently lead several other nations. This network must be strengthened to offer quick last-mile connectivity. We need effective transportation planning for this, he said.

According to him, India is making the "circular economy" a core tenet of urban development. He claimed that as of 2014, just 14–15% of municipal waste was treated, compared to 75%.

If this action had been taken sooner, the boundaries of Indian cities wouldn't have been covered with mounds of trash. Waste processing is being done to rid cities of garbage piles, which will create many chances for recycling and circularity across various businesses, he claimed.

According to Modi, his government's goals and programs should make city dwellers' lives simpler and aid in their own growth.