How about special governance zones to improve Indian cities?

Let these be test enclaves for innovation so that their successful models can be adopted across India

- NITIN PAI

In a recent online conversation on the dismal state of urban infrastructure, a senior political leader all but admitted that government officials are incapable of delivering public works.

When he suggested that willing private companies or industrialists take up the task of supervising the construction of roads, he was not only shifting the responsibility to private individuals, but was also resigned to the fact that public officials cannot do the job satisfactorily. This is the same mindset that causes politicians to suggest that private companies 'adopt' parks, lakes and other public amenities under corporate social responsibility. It is also the logic that puts the onus of fulfilling the right to education on private schools because they do a better job of it.

In the face of such buck passing, the first question that one should ask is just what then is the government for and what it is doing with public funds. But that is a topic for another day. Equally interesting is the practical question of what needs to be done in the face of the open secret that the administrative machinery of governments is incapable of delivering such basic goods as roads, water and drainage.