New Delhi: Cities have borne the maximum brunt of the COVID-19 outbreak but they will also be key to India’s post-pandemic growth as they account for nearly 70 per cent of the country’s GDP and an average of 25-30 people migrate to cities from rural areas every single minute, a new study has shown.
The study by the Geneva-based World Economic Forum (WEF) said the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic has been catastrophic for cities.
“According to estimates, about 70 per cent of India’s GDP comes from its cities and around 25-30 people migrate to the cities from rural areas every minute. However, most big cities in India have a wide economic disparity, with expansive slums and a large urban poor population,” the WEF said.
The study further said that about 25 million households in India — 35 per cent of all urban households — cannot afford housing at market prices and it is time to create a new urban paradigm that enables cities to be healthier, more inclusive and more…