India faces urban infrastructure crisis amid building collapses

India is facing a critical crisis in urban infrastructure, characterized by crumbling roads, overflowing drains, frequent flooding, and unreliable power and water supplies. Despite the emergence of skyscrapers and smart city initiatives, the underlying systems are described as being on the verge of collapse.

A recent tragedy in Delhi’s Satya Niketan, where a five-storey hostel building collapsed on September 6, resulted in seven deaths and several injuries. Preliminary investigations into the incident suggest structural weaknesses, unauthorized alterations, and complicity by supervising authorities. This event highlights the risks faced by the hundreds of thousands of students living in similar accommodations in Delhi.

The issue extends beyond major metropolises to second- and third-tier cities, which are undergoing rapid, unplanned urbanization without sufficient technical personnel, financial resources, or planning institutions. While India’s urbanization rate is approximately 35.7 per cent—significantly lower than China, the United States, or the United Kingdom—the existing infrastructure is struggling to cope with current urban loads.