‘There’s a lot from urban India that needs to be shared with the world’

Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), is visiting India this week.

- Shivani Singh

In an interview with HT, she speaks about critical urban challenges facing the world. She discusses the plans, investments, and systemic changes needed to address these challenges, as well as what India can offer as solutions to cities worldwide. Edited excerpts:Air pollution, traffic, water shortages, poor sanitation, and infrastructure deficits are serious concerns in Indian cities. How does UN-Habitat perceive them?

India is not unique in terms of facing these challenges. These challenges are common in the Global South, where high levels of inequality also exist. Where people have affordability gaps to buy of rent houses to live in good locations in cities.