With the aim of realizing the challenges being posed by rapid urbanization in India and identifying frameworks to tackle them.

1. Report on
“National Summit on Inclusive Urban Development”
Date: 17th October, 2013 Venue: Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar
Organized by Knowledge Partner

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With the aim of realizing the challenges being posed by rapid urbanization in India and identifying frameworks to tackle them, the Vibrant Gujarat National Summit on Inclusive Urban Development – 2013 was organized on the 17th of October 2013 at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar.
No. of speakers:
International: 2
Domestic: 48
No. of participants: 5000
The conference was attended by dignitaries such as:
Shri Rahul Bedmutha
Associate Director, Risk and Infrastructure Solutions, CRISIL
Shri S D Sharma
Director – Business Development, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
Shri P Narsing Rao
Founder Director, Urban Development Research Institute
Dr. Amiya Kumar Sahu
President, National Solid Waste Association of India
Shri Manoj Rai
Director, Participatory Research in Asia
Mr. Chris Hill
President and Chief Executive Officer, Electric Mobility Canada
Mr. Bimal Patel
Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology University
India is urbanizing at an unprecedented pace. By 2030, the Indian urban population is expected to touch 590 million and our cities and towns are expected to account for nearly 70% of India’s GDP. Gujarat, being a frontrunner among Indian states in terms of urbanization, has clearly identified and assessed fundamental requirements essential to foster inclusive urban development. The summit was a knowledge sharing initiative in which Nodal Agencies namely 1) Urban Development & Urban Housing Department 2) Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation 3) Gujarat Urban Development Company and 4) Gujarat Urban Development Mission actively participated to ensure the success of the event.
An informative video on the ‘Statue of Unity’ - a statue symbolizing the unity of the entire nation was shown during the inaugural session.
Smt. Anandiben Patel welcomed the gathering on behalf of the Government of Gujarat and hoped that the event succeeded in enlightening the participants about the need for urban development.
Dr. M Ramachandran, during his keynote address, shared his insights and experiences on the challenges that any developing urban area faces and placed special emphasis on the topics of water management, sanitation, PPP in sanitation and waste management.
Mr. Masakazu Sakakida highlighted how Gujarat has become Japan’s strategic partner and how the number of Japanese companies setting up base in Gujarat has risen to more than 60. He attributed this rise to the stable governance, risk free land acquisition policies and geographical advantage that Gujarat is bestowed with. Conclusively, he promised Japan’s full support to urban development projects in Gujarat.
H E Takeshi Yagi also spoke at length about the efforts Japan is taking to help urban as well as infrastructural development in Gujarat. He stressed the huge urban development opportunities in Gujarat and informed the gathering that a feasibility study was being conducted for the Ahmedabad

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airport on a PPP basis with Kazima Corp. from Japan. In addition to more Japanese companies setting up manufacturing units in Gujarat, Japans would also help in the development of the DMIC – DFC, setting up Asia’s largest desalination project, implementation of waste disposal projects in Gujarat as well as setting up a dedicated Japanese industrial area in Gujarat.
Shri Narendra Modi, during his Inaugural Address inspired the participants to accept urbanization as an opportunity for growth, and not as an obstacle for development. He said that true development will not occur only through the construction of huge gates in the city, but only when each individual considers the city as his or her own and takes an active role in the journey towards development.
Shri Modi also highlighted the success of the Jyotirgram Yojana in Gujarat which has led to uninterrupted three phase power supply to the villages in the state. He also explained Gujarat’s Rurban Model – Aatma Gaanv Ki, Suvidha Sheher Ki; and enlisted his dream of making Gandhinagar a solar powered city soon. He called for embracing the PPPP (People - Public – Private – Partnership) model for inclusive urban development and also called for synergy between cities and villages such as a model wherein waste water from cities could be recycled and sent to the villages for agricultural purposes. He congratulated the organizers of the summit and opined that in this unofficial parliament on urban development, each person stands a chance to learn from the success of other regions and be encouraged to reciprocate the same in his or her own urban area.

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Participation at the summit included Ambassadors, Mayors, Municipal councilors, Municipal officers, urban planners, technology providers and members of the academia. Representatives from 26 states of India, over 400 districts and officials from various Indian cities attended the summit and exchanged their ideas. On the lines of the summit, an exhibition was also held showcasing technologies and expertise which can be helpful for inclusive urban development. Shri Narendra Modi also launched a coffee table book – ‘Gujarat: Unveiling Urban Development; Emerging Trends’ during the summit.
Major points discussed:
 The summit brought together technological and subject matter experts from across the country as well as from abroad to deliberate on the key issues and challenges presented by urbanization.
 A holistic and expert view was obtained on the nation’s urban development needs and the investment opportunities in the urban development sector
 Focus was laid on new and innovative ways to finance, design and build projects for inclusive urban development
 Expert discussions on the emerging urbanization trends and latest paradigms of urban infrastructure development were also held in the summit.
Way Forward:
 Going forward, some of the key sectors for deliberation will be how to maintain the pace of urbanization to match the rapid population explosion and expansion of cities and towns
 Strong rural – urban linkages will be the key to synergetic urbanization
 Affordable Housing, Urban Planning, Multi – Modal Transport, Basic Urban Amenities, Social Inclusion, Sustainable Waste Management, Urban Governance & Municipal Finance and Smart Cities were some of the topics which were highlighted during the summit and will remain hot points of discussion pertaining to urban development in the coming future