From Risk Perception to Sustainable Governance: A Stakeholder-Centric Approach in Urban Infrastructure Development

Amid rapid urbanization, this study investigates public safety risks in Shanghai’s urban construction projects through a stakeholder-centric framework, aiming to advance sustainable urban development. By classifying stakeholders into core, potential, and peripheral groups, the analysis employs mixed methods—qualitative case studies and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP)—to identify systemic risks spanning policy cognition gaps, compensation inequities, and environmental adaptation challenges. The findings reveal critical tensions between infrastructure-driven imperatives and community welfare, highlighting governance blind spots that threaten urban sustainability. This study proposes adaptive strategies to harmonize technical efficiency with social equity, including transparent policymaking, equitable compensation models, and cross-sector collaboration. These pathways prioritize long-term ecological and social resilience, offering a scalable governance framework to mitigate risks while fostering inclusive urban transitions. By bridging stakeholder interests with sustainable development goals, this study advances a replicable framework for megacities like Shanghai, balancing infrastructural expansion with equitable urban transitions while safeguarding social stability and ecological resilience.