India’s Urban Boom: Why ₹10 Lakh Crore Could Flow into Urban Infrastructure in the Years Ahead

As India strides toward rapid urbanisation, its cities are on the brink of a transformative leap. Srinivas Katikithala the Secretary of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs recently addressed the 17th NAREDCO National Convention (held from August 29, 2025), shedding light on the massive momentum building in urban infrastructure. He projected that around ₹10 lakh crore is likely to be invested in urban infrastructure in the next four years, building on an already impressive ₹30 lakh crore poured into urban development over the previous decade. 

A Decade of Investment, and Counting

• From 2004 to 2014, investment in urban infrastructure stood at just ₹1.78 lakh crore.
   
• But under the leadership of the current government, that figure surged to ₹30 lakh crore over the past ten years showcasing an aggressive shift in focus

₹10 Lakh Crore: The Next Frontier

• Katikithala’s forecast isn’t just about numbers, it's a call-to-action. With ₹10 lakh crore expected in the pipeline, there's an open invitation to the private sector to join hands in shaping India’s future cities. 

Housing: The Core of Urban Growth

• Housing plays a starring role in this vision. Strong signals have been given to deepen and accelerate RERA (Real Estate Regulation and Development Act) reforms, especially in affordable housing, to nip registration-related delays in the bud. 
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• Build Where Infrastructure Already Exists
  
  
  • Instead of building blindly, developers are urged to align projects where infrastructure is already in place be it roads, metro corridors, water supply, or sewage systems. “Don’t wait for infrastructure to chase us. Let us chase the spaces where infrastructure is already there,” Katikithala emphasized. 
     

What This Means for Urban India

• Smart Planning Ahead: Developers who position projects along upcoming infrastructure corridors especially in metro, water, and transport can benefit from smoother execution and faster returns.
   
• Affordable Housing Gears Up: With RERA reforms in the pipeline and central attention focused on affordable housing, there's hope for more streamlined, accessible housing for the urban middle and lower income groups.
   
• Public–Private Synergy: Katikithala’s message is clear: urban transformation can't happen in silos. Public bodies and private firms must partner to scale services and infrastructure innovation.
   

This isn’t mere talk of big numbers. It reflects a clear national intent to shape cities that are resilient, inclusive, and efficiently connected. The stage is set for a sweeping infrastructure revolution that not only constructs tracts of concrete and wires but also elevates quality of life across urban India.

With ₹10 lakh crore on the horizon, the upcoming years actually present a golden opportunity for architects, planners, builders, financiers, and innovators to co-author India’s urban narrative.