Overview
- NITI Aayog member Rajiv Gauba, speaking at the valedictory session of the 2nd National Urban Conclave in Bhubaneswar on Sunday, urged states to devolve all 18 functions listed in the 74th Constitutional Amendment to urban local bodies.
- The joint NITI Aayog–MoHUA framework recommends directly elected mayors with five‑year terms and a Mayor‑in‑Council system to give city leadership clearer authority and accountability.
- The package calls for fiscal reforms that include better property tax collection, stronger user‑charge recovery and regular State Finance Commissions, while linking central grants such as the ₹1 lakh crore Urban Challenge Fund to states’ reform progress.
- Planning and housing measures proposed include relaxing restrictive FAR and building rules, promoting mixed‑use and transit‑oriented development, land pooling and adoption of the Model Tenancy Act to expand affordable rental supply.
- Several technical tools and portals were launched at the conclave to support implementation, but the recommendations remain proposals that require state legislation, municipal capacity building and predictable transfers before cities gain the promised powers.