Patna, Aug 10: Cities in India need to be made more conducive to employment generation and investment to support the country’s long-term economic growth, economist and academic Dr Arvind Panagariya said at a lecture programme in Patna.
Addressing a special lecture organised at Bihar Lok Bhavan, Panagariya emphasised the growing importance of urban areas in India’s development and said states would need to improve their policies and administrative systems to fully utilise the economic potential of cities.He highlighted rapid urbanisation, employment generation and efficient utilisation of urban land as key areas requiring greater attention.
Panagariya said strong basic infrastructure, effective governance and sound financial management are essential for creating an environment where businesses can expand and generate jobs.
He also stressed the need for reforms in the labour sector and simplification of government procedures to encourage investment and improve the ease of doing business.
According to the discussion, strengthening the capacity of state governments and making administrative processes more efficient would be important for attracting investment and expanding employment opportunities.
The speaker said India’s cities could play a crucial role in achieving the country’s broader development goals if urban planning and economic policies are aligned with the needs of a growing workforce.
The programme was attended by senior officials, academics, university faculty members, researchers and representatives from the business and industrial sectors.The lecture was organised at Bihar Lok Bhavan and was chaired by a senior official, with discussions focusing on urban development, governance, investment and employment creation.
Panagariya’s remarks underline the need for states to view urbanisation not merely as a challenge of population growth, but as an opportunity to create jobs, investment and stronger economic activity through better planning and policy reforms.
