INDIA is witnessing unprecedent boom times in Economy; this scenario is being bombarded on us by the media (print/electronic) as well as Govt speak. Urbanization in India has seen unprecedented growth, all of which is not too happy.

One must bear in mind the peculiar circumstances touching upon India and not be carried away by so-called scenarios.
a) One of six human on earth is an Indian.
b) India is a unique democracy.
c) India has several races
d) India has scores of languages hundreds of dialects, cultures and endless heritage.
e) India has one of the largest middle class so also PBPL.

OUR metros have become unfriendly and unlivable. Cities and Towns are fast following suit. Smaller Towns are not lagging for behind.
Urbanization is fast paced and heading towards unpalatable directions. Haphazard growth is all too self-evident. Alas infrastructure is not keeping pace with Urbanization.
Hitherto infrastructure was the domain of Govt. and true to Govt, growth of Infrastructure has been turtle paced. Of late one sees Govt-Pvt Sector partnership, many of which are slanted towards friends and favorites and few towards aam-admi.
Population policy, healthcare and education are the crying need of the hour, but none of them seem to agitate the grey-cells of the people at the helm of affairs.
India has the largest band of Senior Citizens in the age band of 60-85 yrs on the one hand and also the largest band of youngsters in the age band of 18-30 yrs on the other hand. The former have limited resources at their disposal and find it well-neigh difficult to make ends meet and the latter are well heeled and have a high spending capacity notwithstanding the high costs of living.
The past decade has seen income levels in certain sectors reach levels which are enviable even to some westerners. Furthermore the present scenario has brought in an attitude of materialism. Mindsets have evolved self-professing that money buys happiness and persuit of money multiplying schemes are hot-favourities mindless of risk entailed.
The risk have shockingly hit share market investors in the recent past. Another hot destination was property market wherein “correction” is all too self-evident (USA is grappling with the situation) and with rising costs of oil, essential commodities, (food tsunami is imminent) interest rates, etc, the chances of India going USA way is not distant. USA is actively considering avenues akin to Loan Waiver, Moratorium on Foreclosures, Taxation reliefs, etc. We have been burdened by Farmer Loan Waiver and hope another one to bail out other sector/s is not loaded thereon by our vote-bank oriented Government.
The question or worry on every one's mind is the road-map qua building sector, and the probable answers thereto defy the best of minds within and outside this sector (yet not recognized as an INDUSTRY for no cogent reasons apart from vested interest of the players themselves. Industry status would invite need for pre-qualification, regulation etc all of which is least desired by the players).
We need not concern ourselves with Industrial Building Industry and address ourselves to IT hubs, Commercial hubs (malls, multiplex, and other commercial buildings) and last but not the least RESIDENTIAL.
Norms of development warrant that infrastructure (such as road networks, electricity supply, drainage, water, community services (such as hospitals, schools, colleges) and other such utilities be firstly provided for and only thereafter should an area be thrown open to building development. Infrastructure is the domain of the Government and the attention given to the same by the authorities is all too visible and not warranting any elaboration. On the other hand, the pursuit of wealth in the private sector has seen unbridled pace of development in building sector. The sheer lack (or at times absence) of tango between infrastructural development and building sector development has thrown up stark results.
Egs.
a) Acute power shortage
b) Water deficiencies
c) Acute traffic problems and attended parking rues.
The above list is not exhaustive.
Affordable housing has become a distant dream for our middle class: thanks mainly to the ineptitude of the Govt. who not only remained mute spectators but colluded with Developers mainly ensuring non-implementation (in letter and spirit), of ULCR Act, mindlessly throwing doors open to FDI in Housing, to Foreigners (Goa-episode), etc etc . Moreover CORRUPTION is a cancer fast eroding our very vitals. With vested interests (of politicians, bureaucrats and public servants of every hue and cry) in building industry, it was not conducive for Govt. etc to rightfully address the issue of affordable housing.
Moreover development control rules and regulations have not abreast with modern development consents and designs. Your model cities like New York, Toronto, Hong Kong etc have FSI regulations of between 5 to 13 whereas at home we have generally a max FSI of mere 1. There is a backlog of housing of over 20 million units, it is only innovative thinking such as increasing FSI for mass housing projects, giving other incentives for Developers undertaking mass housing projects, providing infrastructural support for such mass housing project and above all having penal consequences for violators of such benefits, which could help a long way to reduce the monumental backlog regarding mass housing needs.
Admittedly the divide between the HAVES & HAVE-NOTS is increasing by the day. The middle class (the backbone of our Society for ages), is slowly but surely being eroded. With the inevitable inflationary trends, food shortages lack of discipline and national spirit in our countrymen (this trait is more evident in the haves rather than the have-nots, as evident to the most naïve mind, the haves manage to wriggle out of legal tangles with “Surprising” ease) etc; we are now seeing serious law-n-order situations and the same are likely to reach epic proportions bordering on civil disorder.
I firmly believe that it is still not late in the day for the middle class to get its act-together and try stem the rot and salvage the situation. Self-discipline followed by alertness about things/happenings around us. Nations like USA, UK etc are role-models to the rest of the world for the very discipline and national pride of its citizens. India is not for behind them in economic strength and human talent. But alas the lack of other two parameters amongst us is what that brings the wide gap between developed countries and INDIA. Many other countries who have become independent around the same time as India or even thereafter, have seen remarkable progress. Today the world around, India is on the lips of everyone and we cannot loose this opportunity to ensure that we attain a place of prominence and pride in the HALL of FAME of the World.
Industrial Houses such as TATAS, BIRLAS, GODREJ are not only household names nationally but also overseas, and their mite of contribution to social objectives (setting up of schools, colleges, hospitals etc) are too common place. However Builders and Developers who have amassed fortunes, in lesser times, have done precious little towards even their own employees let alone Society at large. Other than Builders, few of us ever bother to revisit our school, college, teachers, professors (each of whom has a fair share of responsibility of what we are today) and assist it/him/her in anywise possible. Self-centeredness is inherent amongst most of us (baring exceptions). It is incumbent upon us to think and act collectively for common and large good, for therein lies the very interest and future of ourselves and our children.