All these missions represent clear vision and intent of government for development of cities in the country. "To realise orderly development of cities for all citizens, we need to pave the way for improving quality of life of people. We are hopeful that current inequalities and inequities in cities are surmountable", Ashok Kumar Professor of Physical Planning, School of Planning and Architecture, a member of the Institute of Planners, India said. Stressing on the importance of their move, ITPI, the professional body of urban and regional planners in India with a membership of over 5,000 planners said 40 per cent population in developing countries lives in cities, which is expected to increase to 56 percent by 2030. According to Census 2011, India has 7, 935 urban settlements house 31.16% of the country's population. The recent estimates indicate that by 2050, 50% Indians will live in urban areas and by 2030 cities and will account for 75% of its GDP.

Urban population in developing countries will continue to grow at 2.4 percent per year till 2030. According, to the United Nations by 2050, the number of people living in cities in India and China alone will grow by 696 million (India 404 million; China 292 million). Half of Asia's and Sub Saharan Africa's population will live in cities by 2030.

It is in this context that the ITPI is organising a two-day international conference on 27 - 28 July 2017 in Delhi on 'Future of Cities: Opportunities and Challenges' to examine the nature of opportunities presented by the cities of developing countries to the human race globally and analyse challenges in the future. It will also deliberate and codify ways and means to transcend major challenges of the cities. It aims to elaborate deliberations for recommending better policy and governance arenas for making available more opportunities for city dwellers.