Based on my years of expo-sure, experience and interest in urban affairs, if you ask me whether we can achieve this dream, my answer is that we should look closely at the state of our infrastructure and services and the kind of governance we have.

The overall power situation in the State has always been precarious. It is well known that in times of shortage, Chennai is pampered at the cost of smaller towns and the rural areas. In spite of this, we have regular shortages. Most industrial units and businesses invest heavily on standby generation.

The Chennai area is historically water-starved, preponderantly dependent on the rains. In spite of Veeranam, Krishna and the desalination projects, Chennai’s water supply is insufficient and undependable. Most housing complexes have to supplement their supply from groundwater sources and private tankers.

We have never been able to treat and safely dispose of the city’s sewage and waste-water in spite of massive funding of projects by World Bank and the Central Government.

We struggle each day to clear the solid wastes of the city, but the accumulated piles of rotting garbage in many areas is legendary.

There is no footpath in any arterial road or commercial area in the city which is usable by even a fully abled citizen, leave aside women, children, senior citizens and the differently abled. No cyclist is safe in Chennai’s transport corridors.

In major commerical areas, footpaths are used to park two-wheelers and even cars. Pedestrians have to risk their lives on the carriageways.

To add to all this, serious violations of the planning laws and building rules compound the burden on the infrastructure and services.

Good governance dictates that with the explosion of the population of people and vehicles and the severe limitations on our infrastructure and services, new businesses and industries should be diverted to secondary cities. This makes sense and is also a measure of equitable distribution of the benefits of globalisation across the State. Instead, we keep on inviting new enterprises to locate on Chennai’s doorsteps. Be warned that this totally unplanned, disorderly, poorly serviced and ugly megalopolis will be totally ungovernable in 5 years’ time.

Good governance is the key. Enforcement in the city is totally absent and most authorities have simply abdicated their responsibilities. Most often, this is not a reflection of incompetence as much as it is of lack of integrity. None of these problems can be solved in a bureaucratic and political environment which is notoriously corrupt.

Builders, real estate developers and construction agencies must look at their mandates as much more than just buying, selling and executing civil works. They are operating in a situation of serious crisis in every sector of infrastructure and services as well as governance and so they must act responsibly and try to contribute to the resolution of these problems. They have enough clout and resources to participate in governance meaningfully.

Apart from this, the building and construction industry has serious social responsibilities. It must be ethical in all its dealings, reminding itself that it does not have the best of reputations in this matter. It must think of the needs and welfare of 60-70 per cent of the city’s families who cannot afford to be their customers. This is not a call for charity. Can they close their eyes to 30 per cent of the population who live in slums and squatter settlements? Or be unmoved by the heartless eviction of thousands of poor families from public lands and their banishment to sites 45 km from the city? Maybe, there is an opportunity here for the industry if it can sacrifice their usual bonanza and work on smaller margins. Affordable homes. Give it a try.

As of today, in my view, there can be no pretensions of world-class where governance is abdicated, where corruption thrives and where the poor are banished from the city in order to beautify it.

* Louis Menezes, former Secretary, Government of India, Ministry of Renewable Energy in 1995, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Works and Housing, GOI, Health Secretary and Housing Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, Special Officer, Chennai Corporation, MD, Chennai Metrowater, and Member-Secretary, MMDA.