Rishikesh/Chandigarh, June 4:- In a significant initiative aimed at strengthening urban governance and empowering cities across the country, Chandigarh Mayor Sh. Saurabh Joshi today moved a landmark resolution seeking the establishment of a “National Urban Parliament of India (NUPI)” during the All India Mayors Council Meeting held in Rishikesh.

Presenting the resolution before mayors and urban leaders from across the nation, Mayor Joshi emphasized that India is witnessing rapid urbanization, with cities emerging as the principal drivers of economic growth, innovation, employment generation and public service delivery. He highlighted the need for a robust national platform where elected urban representatives can collectively deliberate on critical urban challenges and contribute meaningfully to policy formulation.

The proposed National Urban Parliament of India would serve as a permanent national forum comprising Mayors of Municipal Corporations, representatives of Municipal Councils and Nagar Palikas, along with special invitees from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and other key stakeholders.

Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Saurabh Joshi stated that while Urban Local Bodies constitute the third tier of governance under the 74th Constitutional Amendment, there is currently no formal institutional mechanism through which elected mayors can jointly articulate the concerns and aspirations of India's cities at the national level.

The resolution proposes that the National Urban Parliament meet annually to deliberate on pressing issues such as urban infrastructure, municipal finance, water supply, sanitation, public transportation, affordable housing, climate resilience, digital governance, environmental sustainability and citizen welfare.

The proposed body would also be empowered to submit policy recommendations, resolutions and position papers to the Parliament of India, NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, and State Governments and Union Territories.

To address sector-specific challenges, the resolution recommends the constitution of dedicated Standing Committees on Municipal Finance & Revenue, Water Supply & Sanitation, Urban Mobility, Solid Waste Management, Climate Change & Environment, Public Health, and Urban Safety & Disaster Management.

Mayor Joshi further advocated for the full implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, transfer of all functions listed under the Twelfth Schedule to Urban Local Bodies, greater fiscal autonomy for Municipal Corporations and the strengthening of democratic, transparent and accountable urban governance systems.

The proposal received keen interest from participating mayors and urban governance experts, who acknowledged the growing importance of empowering cities as India moves towards becoming a leading global economy.

The initiative is being viewed as a visionary step towards creating a unified national voice for urban local bodies and ensuring that the concerns and aspirations of Indian cities are effectively represented in the country's policy-making framework.