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Urban Service Delivery in West Bengal: Current Scenario and New Challenges

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  • Soumyadip Chattopadhyay
  • Maumita Das

Abstract

Size class-wise analysis of state’s urban services in West Bengal reveals that, in spite of improvement in provision of urban services in 2011 over 2001, service deficits and inter-category variations did persist. Service coverage increased systematically with the size class of the urban local bodies (ULBs), and intra-category disparities were higher for smaller ULBs. Mainly, the larger ULBs exhibited positive relationships between financial performances and urban service delivery. Therefore, this article argues for higher fund allocation for basic services and concerted development of smaller cities, through financial empowerment and institutional strengthening, as the key strategies for ensuring sustainable urbanisation. JEL Classification: H41, R53

Suggested Citation

  • Soumyadip Chattopadhyay & Maumita Das, 2018. "Urban Service Delivery in West Bengal: Current Scenario and New Challenges," Journal of Infrastructure Development, India Development Foundation, vol. 10(1-2), pages 18-36, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jouinf:v:10:y:2018:i:1-2:p:18-36
    DOI: 10.1177/0974930618773253
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Roy Bahl & Geeta Sethi & Sally Wallace, 2010. "Fiscal Decentralization to Rural Local Governments in India: A Case Study of West Bengal State," Publius: The Journal of Federalism, CSF Associates Inc., vol. 40(2), pages 312-331, Spring.
    2. Francis Fukuyama, 2013. "What Is Governance?," Working Papers 314, Center for Global Development.
    3. Richard M. Bird, 2000. "Intergovernmental Fiscal Relations: Universal Principles, Local Applications," International Center for Public Policy Working Paper Series, at AYSPS, GSU paper0002, International Center for Public Policy, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University.
    4. Sridhar, Kala Seetharam & Reddy, A. Venugopala, 2010. "State of Urban Services in India's Cities: Spending and Financing," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780198065388, Decembrie.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Urban service delivery; municipal finance; urban local governments; inequity; West Bengal;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • R53 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Public Facility Location Analysis; Public Investment and Capital Stock

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