Uma Adusumilli: India's Urban Evolution and the Road to 2080

Uma Adusumilli, an architect and former chief planner of the regional planning division of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), joins us for the latest episode of The Century of Cities. Drawing on decades of experience, Uma looks into India's urban journey, from the cultural shocks during the 1980s to the challenges of today's crowded megacities. Uma reveals the rise of medium-sized cities as growth hubs, the promise of rural revitalization, and how population stabilization by 2050 could redefine infrastructure and governance. Learn how India's evolving city system, including decentralizing power from significant metropolises like Mumbai, creates a more balanced urban landscape. Uma shares hard-earned lessons on planning new cities, fostering community, and innovating with infrastructure. She also looks ahead to 2080, envisioning a future shaped by AI, shifting demographics, and sustainability.