Urbanisation must focus on ease of living, not just housing: MoHUA official

Time of India

4 days ago

NEW DELHI: Urbanisation should go beyond housing to focus on improving ease of living, said
D Thara
, additional secretary,
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
.
Thara stressed the need to 'reimagine urbanisation' by adopting a contextual and customized approach, rather than merely delivering housing supply. 'We need to change the way we view land and adopt a new paradigm,' she said.
With urbanisation projected to accelerate sharply—matching the scale of the last century within the next two decades—she highlighted the importance of balancing urban growth with the conservation of rural and agricultural land. "We need to densify systematically," she added.
Thara also noted the government's efforts to formulate policies for rejuvenating historic and business city cores, aiming to modernize urban infrastructure while preserving cultural heritage.
FICCI
and
L&T Technology Services
released a whitepaper during the conclave highlighting the need for
cyber resilience
in the face of increasing digitisation of core urban services.
The paper points to a rising threat landscape targeting critical infrastructure — including power grids, telecom networks, financial institutions, and healthcare systems — through AI-driven phishing, ransomware, and deepfake impersonations. It advocates for a federated threat intelligence architecture that enables real-time data sharing across infrastructure sectors, supported by AI-based detection and automated response systems.
Citing the MahaCyber initiative in Maharashtra, the report showcases how a state-level cyber coordination centre can serve as a blueprint. MahaCyber integrates law enforcement, CERTs, and private operators to deliver real-time cyber monitoring, AI-enabled risk scoring, and public-sector incident response workflows.
Speaking at the event, OP Agarwal, advisor, FICCI Working Group on Urban Development, said innovation in the urban sector will be critical for India's growth trajectory.
Vipul Roongta, MD & CEO of HDFC Capital Advisors, emphasised that urban development and housing must progress together to ensure both affordability and livability.