Mumbai, Varanasi, Surat, and Visakhapatnam have been chosen for the Growth Hub programme, a pivotal initiative under Viksit Bharat's vision to transform India into a $30 trillion economy by 2047. NITI Aayog, on a pilot basis, has identified these cities to kickstart the Growth Hub programme, focusing on developing city regions strategically for economic advancement.
The Growth Hub programme aims to create a blueprint for planned development, charting economic growth strategies for identified city regions across the country. It envisions a roadmap that identifies key growth drivers, enablers, and interventions to achieve the economic target by 2047.
These four cities were selected based on considerations like geographic spread, size, and scale. Varanasi, Surat, and Visakhapatnam join Mumbai in this initiative, forming city regions that encompass socially and economically linked districts.
For instance, Varanasi's city region spans districts such as Prayagraj, Azamgarh, and Ghazipur. Visakhapatnam's region includes districts like Vizianagram and East Godavari. The project involves a robust institutional framework, including a National Steering Committee chaired by the CEO of NITI Aayog and state-level steering committees.
Each state—Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh—has constituted steering committees for strategic interventions and monitoring, led by the Chief Secretary. To streamline operations, designated cells have been formed at the state level.
Consultations with district collectors and state officials have taken place, ensuring diverse inputs for the project. The timeline for subsequent steps has been established, underscoring the commitment to the initiative's success.
NITI Aayog has signed a Statement of Intent with the Institute of Sustainability, Employment, and Growth (ISEG) Foundation and World Resources Institute (WRI) India for this transformative project. The economic growth strategy template includes the identification of organisational and financial catalysts, short-listed growth driver milestones, a funding plan, and a proposed governance structure, setting the stage for a holistic and impactful initiative.
