₹10 Lakh Crore Investment in Urban Infrastructure Over Next 4 Years: Housing Secretary
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Srinivas Katikithala announced that India's urban infrastructure will see a massive investment of ₹10 lakh crore over the next four years, building on the ₹30 lakh crore invested in the last decade. This investment aims to support the rapid urbanisation of India, where over 50% of the population is expected to live in urban areas in the next 20 years.
Urban InfrastructureReal EstateReraUrbanisationInvestmentReal Estate NewsAug 29, 2025
Addressing the 17th annual convention of NAREDCO, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Secretary Srinivas Katikithala noted that India is rapidly urbanising and in the next 20 years, more than 50% of the population would live in urban areas. He described this rapid urbanisation as both a challenge and an opportunity.
The secretary exhorted the real estate industry to develop their projects where infrastructure is being laid, and also asked them to expand their work horizons beyond housing. 'In the last one decade under the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urban infrastructure and the urban sector have received enormous attention, enormous investment,' he said. 'In the last one decade, we have seen an investment of ₹30 lakh crore,' he added, noting that the investment was only ₹1.78 lakh crore during the 2004-2014 period.
Katikithala said the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is the fourth-largest capital spending ministry in the central government. Therefore, he stated, 'It becomes our responsibility, collectively in this room, to participate in this economic activity and also contribute to it.' The secretary pointed out that the real estate sector's contribution to this investment of ₹30 lakh crore would be very less.
When this infrastructure expansion is happening, are we aligning our projects along this infrastructure expansion? Katikithala questioned builders. He asked the real estate industry to align its development activities along existing infrastructure. 'Please do not wait for infrastructure to chase us. Let us chase the spaces (location) where infrastructure is already going (being built),' Katikithala said. He mentioned that massive investments are being made in urban infrastructure, including roads, metro rail, railways, water supply, and sewage.
But what is happening is, there is a bit of a dissonance between where we are developing residential or commercial or whatever spaces and where this infrastructure is getting laid, Katikithala said. The secretary asked builders to identify and look at opportunities where these infrastructures have been built. 'In the next four years...₹10 lakh crore are going to be spent in the urban areas,' he said, adding that there are huge opportunities for participation and growth for the private sector. The secretary said the private sector should contribute to making urban areas more efficient. 'It is no longer enough for urban local bodies to deliver services on their own; they must come together with the private sector and deliver high-quality urban services,' Katikithala said.
Talking about the real estate regulatory law, RERA, the secretary asked the real estate sector to proactively support in better implementation of this legislation. He said more projects should be registered under the RERA and also stressed proper training to brokers registered under this legislation. The secretary informed that the Prime Minister has reviewed the implementation of the RERA law in the recent past in a meeting with all Chief Secretaries of the States. 'He told all of them to take up RERA as one of the important initiatives of the country,' the secretary said. The Prime Minister has also directed to create awareness about the benefits of this law among taxpayers, he added, noting that his ministry has already collaborated with the CBDT for this purpose. The RERA law implementation has also been discussed recently in the Parliamentary Standing Committee, the secretary said.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much investment has been made in India's urban infrastructure in the last decade?
India's urban infrastructure has seen an investment of ₹30 lakh crore in the last decade.
What is the projected investment in urban infrastructure over the next four years?
The projected investment in urban infrastructure over the next four years is ₹10 lakh crore.
What percentage of India's population is expected to live in urban areas in the next 20 years?
Over 50% of India's population is expected to live in urban areas in the next 20 years.
What is the role of the real estate sector in aligning with infrastructure expansion?
The real estate sector is encouraged to develop projects where infrastructure is being built and to expand their work horizons beyond housing to support urbanisation.
What is RERA and why is it important?
RERA (Real Estate Regulatory Authority) is a regulatory law aimed at bringing transparency and accountability in the real estate sector. It is important for protecting the interests of homebuyers and ensuring better implementation of real estate projects.
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