This refers to Barun Roy's column "The urbanisation question" (Asia File, October 31). In January 2011, the western media reported that China was building a mega-city with a population of 43 million, connecting nine towns in the Pearl River Delta. Neither did our media report this news, nor wrote an analytical report of how we could also tailor such schemes.
It was, however, heartening to note an announcement last year to merge Chennai with the three adjacent districts encompassing 8,000 sq km. But further details on transport links were not given. Ten years back, the National Democratic Alliance government announced plans to modernise 300 smaller airports in India. These modernised airports, if linked by improved transportation with towns in their hinterland, would have resulted in greater economic activity. However, details of the progress achieved in the last 10 years are not available in the public domain. If similar linking of towns is planned for the vast region covered by the northern and central Indian states, our economy could reach a higher trajectory. If the ministries of Railways, Road transport and urban development alongside the Planning Commission interacts more closely with the states, we could make tremendous progress and to catch up with China in this field. What we need is a more specific and time-bound project from each state. The Planning Commission could be the nodal and facilitating centre.
S Subramanyan Navi Mumbai
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