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The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has started a special audit covering 101 cities to evaluate ease of living, urban mobility and the effectiveness of public infrastructure. The exercise will assess whether government spending on transport, connectivity and civic services has improved the daily lives of citizens. The audit will study quality of life, sustainability, accessibility and governance standards in urban centres. It will also review first-mile and last-mile connectivity and multi-modal transport systems with support from institutions such as IITs, IIMs and the World Bank as Indian cities continue to face rising congestion and infrastructure pressure.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has initiated a special audit of 101 cities across the country to assess ease of living, urban mobility and the quality of public infrastructure from the citizens’ perspective. The exercise was announced by CAG K Sanjay Murthy during the fifth BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions Leaders’ Summit held in Bengaluru. Advertisement
The audit will focus on how urban infrastructure projects and public spending have impacted daily life in cities. Areas such as accessibility, sustainability, public transport systems, governance efficiency and overall quality of life will be examined as part of the review. The exercise is expected to evaluate whether infrastructure development has translated into practical improvements for residents instead of only creating physical assets.
Murthy said the CAG is also studying multi-modal transport systems and first-mile and last-mile connectivity in partnership with institutions including the Indian Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management and the World Bank. According to him, the role of public audits is gradually moving beyond checking financial compliance and project execution towards measuring actual outcomes for citizens.
He observed that urban mobility challenges in Indian cities are often linked more to governance and coordination gaps than only infrastructure shortages. He noted that many cities continue to expand metro rail lines, roads and flyovers without proper integration between different transport systems. As a result, traffic congestion, longer commuting time and poor public transport accessibility continue despite large-scale investments.
Murthy further stated that governments usually evaluate infrastructure projects through parameters such as kilometres of roads built or the number of stations completed, while citizen-focused indicators like travel time, pollution levels, accessibility and commuting convenience receive less attention. He added that mobility has become one of the clearest indicators of governance quality because it directly affects access to employment, healthcare, education and other essential services.
The CAG also highlighted the growing economic importance of Indian cities. Urban centres currently occupy nearly 3 per cent of the country’s land area but contribute around 60 per cent of India’s GDP. He added that close to 70 per cent of new jobs in the country are expected to be generated in urban areas by 2030, increasing pressure on transport systems, housing and civic infrastructure.
The audit comes at a time when several Indian cities are witnessing rapid urbanisation along with rising concerns related to traffic congestion, pollution and inadequate public transport integration. Over the past few years, the government has increased investments in metro rail projects, smart city programmes, transit-oriented development and road infrastructure. However, urban experts and planners have repeatedly pointed out that lack of coordination between civic bodies and transport agencies continues to affect infrastructure efficiency in many cities.
Murthy also pointed to global trends, stating that congestion levels have increased significantly in recent years, with commuters in major cities losing nearly 100 to 180 productive hours annually due to traffic bottlenecks. He stressed that improving urban mobility requires long-term planning, integrated transport systems and stronger institutional coordination rather than isolated infrastructure expansion.
The BRICS summit hosted under India’s chairmanship for 2026 brought together representatives and audit institutions from countries including Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia and the UAE. Discussions during the summit focused on urban governance, mobility planning, environmental sustainability and improving accountability in public spending.
The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption of the BRICS SAI Work Plan 2027-28 and the Bengaluru Declaration, which will outline areas of cooperation among member nations on governance and public sector audits.
Source PTI
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