BENGALURU: The Indian government is undertaking a comprehensive audit of 101 cities to evaluate citizens’ ease of living, as stated by Comptroller and Auditor General K Sanjay Murthy on Thursday.
In his keynote speech at the 5th BRICS Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) Leaders’ Summit, Murthy highlighted that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is reviewing multi-modal transport systems and logistics, collaborating with institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Management, and the World Bank.
India is hosting this three-day summit under the theme ‘Ease of Living with a Focus on Urban Mobility’ during its year as chair of BRICS 2026. The event unites 42 delegates, including heads of SAIs from BRICS nations, to discuss shared audit themes, exchange best practices, and enhance public financial oversight.
“Gathering in Bengaluru, known as both India’s Silicon Valley and Garden City, is particularly fitting,” Murthy remarked. “This city not only powers cutting-edge global enterprises but also showcases the everyday challenges faced by its citizens, offering compelling reasons for the relevance of this summit.”
He noted that while Indian cities constitute just 3% of the nation’s land, they account for 60% of the GDP, predicting that 70% of new jobs in India will emerge from urban areas by 2030.
“Urban mobility translates governance from an abstract concept to a personal experience. It serves as a daily feedback mechanism for citizens regarding their governments,” he emphasized.
The rise in global congestion indices—from 20% to 25% by 2025—brings significant productivity losses for urban commuters, costing them between 100 to 180 hours annually.
“Solutions exist, yet governance remains the barrier,” he added, explaining that urban transport fails not due to inadequate infrastructure but because of disconnected systems.
“We often construct metro lines that lack integration with bus networks, and flyovers that merely shift congestion. Our focus tends to be on outputs like the number of roads and stations rather than outcomes such as improved commute times, enhanced air quality, or reduced inequality in access,” he said.
Discussing the evolving role of Supreme Audit Institutions, Murthy mentioned that SAI India is now providing value-added services such as departmental notes, management letters, and analytical reports.
“Our audit of 101 Indian cities examines citizens’ ease of living across quality of life, access, sustainability, and perception,” he stated.
With BRICS nations representing over 3 billion people and facing rapid urban growth, they encounter similar challenges in urban mobility, affordable housing, environmental sustainability, and equitable public services, all areas where SAI insights are valuable, according to the CAG’s office.
Presentations are set to be delivered by SAIs from Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Russia, South Africa, and the UAE, alongside experts in urban finance and mobility.
The summit will wrap up with discussions on the BRICS SAI Work Plan for 2027-28 and the Bengaluru Declaration, concluding with remarks from the CAG of India.
