Brig SK Sharma

Gurugram Liveability Index: A Second Look

The Liveability Index is a tool used to rank cities based on a comprehensive set of parameters that measure various aspects of urban living. In developed countries, the index often prioritizes commercial and economic factors, assuming that basic needs such as mobility, healthcare, education, and civic services are already well-established. However, in developing countries, where issues like slums, inadequate sanitation, and limited access to essential services are more pressing, the focus shifts to these fundamental aspects of liveability.

Gurugram’s Liveability Index, first introduced in a draft form in mid-2018, reflects this reality by emphasising the basic needs crucial for urban living. The index is organized into 10 key indicators, known as “Themes,” which are further subdivided into 42 specific parameters. These Themes include Roads and Mobility; Water Supply and Sewage; Power, Clean Energy, and Piped Gas; Urban Environment; Waste Management; Safety and Emergency Services; Affordable Health; Affordable Housing; Education and Skill Development; and Government Responsiveness.

Following a public review in late 2018, significant revisions were made to the parameters, leading to the release of a final draft in June 2021 and a subsequent final Notification in June 2022. The major changes included refining and reducing the parameters to around 40 and the addition of a new indicator, “Drainage,” which had been inexplicably omitted earlier. Additionally, the final version of the index introduced benchmarks and provided the rationale for their selection, giving the city clear targets to aspire to.

The next logical step in this process should have been to assess the current status of each parameter. Without this baseline data, it is impossible to measure progress over time or determine whether the aspirational targets set for each benchmark are being met. Unfortunately, as of now, it appears that no surveys, data collection, or estimates have been conducted to establish the current status of these benchmarks. This should be the immediate priority for the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).

Let’s examine some of the key indicators and their associated benchmarks in detail:

Mobility: One of the aspirational targets under Mobility is that 75% or more of the city’s total road length should have walkable footpaths and pedestrian crossings. However, it is estimated that currently, no more than 10% of the roads meet this standard, highlighting the enormous task ahead. Additionally, while cycle tracks are not mentioned in the benchmarks, they should be constructed wherever feasible. Notably, the issue of potholes—one of the most dangerous hazards on the roads—is also absent from the benchmarks under Mobility.

Drainage: Under the newly added Drainage indicator, the goal is to achieve 100% storm water drainage coverage through a Comprehensive Drainage Plan, which is yet to be prepared. This plan should extend from the Aravallis to the Najafgarh drain, covering a height differential of about 70 meters. The current plan, which includes three major drains (referred to as Leg 1, 2, and 3), needs to be closely monitored, particularly in the next year or two, and this progress should be reflected in the Liveability Index. Furthermore, the desilting process, which should be ongoing throughout the year, must be tracked with fixed monthly targets, and funding should be contingent on assessing previous progress. Additionally, the absence of City Rainwater Harvesting wells in the Drainage indicator is a notable omission, as these wells are crucial for groundwater recharge and should be installed at multiple locations in low-lying areas.

Urban Environment: This key indicator includes six sub-indicators, two related to air quality and four concerning green spaces, recreation, water body rejuvenation, and groundwater recharge. While these goals are commendable, the current status of these initiatives and the progress made in the past two years are not publicly available.

Waste Management: Waste management is critical to liveability in Gurugram, yet the city has made little progress in areas such as segregation, collection, transportation, and disposal of waste. The issue of legacy waste also remains unresolved. Although the five indicators under this theme are well-conceived, the lack of progress is evident. Like Drainage, Waste Management must be addressed on a mission mode. With the Central Government’s Environment Ministry and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) placing increased emphasis on this issue, there is hope for progress at the household and society levels, particularly in areas like waste segregation and composting at source, minimizing landfill usage, and processing various types of waste, including electronic, biomedical, and construction and demolition (C&D) waste.

In conclusion, while the Livability Index is a significant step forward, it is merely the beginning. Although some progress has been made, such as the preparation of the Comprehensive Mobility Plan, most key performance indicators (KPIs) have yet to show tangible improvements. The next crucial step is to assess the current status of all parameters through rigorous surveys and to report any progress, however small, in the Livability Index and make it available to the public. The Livability Index should be viewed as a dynamic document that reflects ongoing progress and serves as a trust between government agencies and the public, all with the shared goal of making “Gurgaon First.”