Governor Kavinder Gupta: Indian cities must become ‘engines of economic growth’

Governor Kavinder Gupta said Indian cities must evolve into “engines of economic growth” and centres of innovation for the country to realise its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, addressing the inaugural session of Future Cities Forum 2026 in Pune. The forum, themed “India’s Cities: Leading the Growth of Viksit Bharat,” was organised by Pune Times Mirror in collaboration with the Lexicon Group.

Gupta said cities today “are not merely clusters of roads and buildings” but centres where opportunities are created, ideas take shape, industries flourish and the economy gathers momentum. He said that if India aspires to become one of the world’s leading economies, its cities must evolve into world-class urban centres.

He said the vision of Viksit Bharat, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requires cities to become engines of economic growth, centres of innovation and models of sustainable development, at a time when India’s aspirations extend beyond economic growth toward building a prosperous, self-reliant and developed nation.

Gupta called for future cities to be technologically advanced while remaining sensitive to citizens’ needs, urging urban centres that are inclusive, safe, clean, green and environmentally sustainable while preserving India’s cultural heritage alongside modern infrastructure.

He said meaningful progress requires collaboration among governments, urban local bodies, industry, educational institutions and civil society, and expressed confidence that the forum’s deliberations would generate practical ideas capable of shaping public policy.