New Delhi, April 1 -- India's cities sit at the centre of its growth story, promising jobs, mobility and a better quality of life. But scratch beneath the surface, and a different reality emerges. Congestion is worsening, air quality is deteriorating, and urban sprawl is stretching city limits without improving liveability.

A new report by Bengaluru-based not-for-profit Janaagraha argues that the real issue isn't a lack of funding, but how cities are planned and governed.

Despite rising urbanisation, India's productivity gains are modest compared to global peers. Cities are expanding outward in unplanned ways, pushing residents to the periphery and increasing commute times and infrastructure stress. At the same time, fragmented governan...