1.6 lakh tonnes
Municipal solid waste produced in India's towns and cities every day, 2020-21
A liveable city has to collect, treat and recycle this every day.
Source: Central Pollution Control Board · 2020-21 · checked 13 November 202609 / 10
Liveable Cities
Cities should be designed for people.
Cities where ordinary families can live well.
AI-generated illustrationWhat good looks like
Safe footpaths, reliable buses and trains, clean water, working drains, and homes ordinary families can afford.
- Safe footpaths, reliable buses and trains, less traffic
- Clean water, working drains, garbage collected on time
- Homes people can afford, close to work
Current problems
- Cities produce large amounts of waste and need systems that move people and clean the city every day.
Evidence and data
Figures from public reports; we are checking them against the latest releases.
Why this matters
Most Indians will soon live in or near a city. How a city is designed decides how long the commute is, how clean the air is and whether a child can walk to school.
Possible solutions
- 1
Move people, not just cars
Reliable buses, trains, safe footpaths and cycle lanes.
- 2
Keep the basics working
Clean water, working drains and garbage collected on time.
- 3
Plan for people
Homes ordinary families can afford, close to work.
Positive Indian examples
Kochi Water Metro
Inaugurated in April 2023, Kochi Water Metro runs electric hybrid boats between the mainland and the islands around Kochi. Its first phase ran eight boats on two routes; the full plan is 78 boats, 38 terminals and 16 routes.
Source: The Print: India's first water metro in Kochi · checked 13 November 2026Related articles and topics
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