Why Indian Cities Keep Failing? Truth About Our Urban Planning System | HC E10 | Hitesh Vaidya | Ruchita Bansal

About the Episode: The real crisis in Indian cities isn’t the floods, traffic, or heat — it’s how we plan for them.In this episode of The HumanCity Podcast, host Ruchita Bansal sits down with Hitesh Vaidya, former Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), to unpack why our urban planning system keeps breaking — and what it will take to fix it.Together, they explore how India’s cities are planned using outdated frameworks meant for villages, why governance remains reactive, and how coordination gaps between departments lead to chaos on the ground.From Smart City Mission to Delhi Master Plan 2041, this episode dives deep into India’s most critical urban issues — finance, climate resilience, gender inclusion, and the need for cities that care, not control.If you’ve ever wondered why Indian cities flood every monsoon, heat up every summer, and still fail to deliver livable spaces — this conversation is your answer.About the Guest: Hitesh Vaidya is the former Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), India’s premier urban think tank under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.With over 25 years of experience in urban governance, policy, and planning, he has led several national programs — from JNNURM to the Smart Cities Mission — shaping how Indian cities plan, grow, and govern.Before NIUA, he worked with UN-Habitat, where he focused on city resilience, local governance, and capacity building across South Asia. His work bridges the gap between policy and practice, helping governments translate plans into people-centered outcomes.Connect with him on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiteshvaidya/------------------------About the Host:The Human City Podcast is hosted by Ruchita Bansal, an accomplished urban planner and project management professional with 15+ years of experience. She has led multi-billion-dollar development projects and sustainable mobility programs across India, including her leadership role at the Ayodhya Development Authority.Ruchita is also the founder of SheCity India, a platform for gender-inclusive urban planning, storytelling, and data-driven advocacy.--------------------------About The Human City Podcast:This podcast brings together global voices and local insights to explore how cities can be made more inclusive, sustainable, and human-centered. Each episode uncovers what it takes to design cities that truly work for people.“The Human City Podcast is an initiative of SheCity India — building gender-inclusive, human-centered cities.”-------------------------Who should be our next guest? Write to us at [email protected] -------------------------Disclaimer: The views shared in this conversation are those of the guest and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Human City Podcast or its host. This content is for informational and educational purposes only.-------------------------Subscribe & Follow If you enjoy conversations on cities, gender, and urban change, hit Subscribe and turn on notifications.Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1syIPWE...