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The year 2018 marked 20 years of partnership between the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). The release of this publication reflects the journey and the accomplishments over the last 2 decades of this partnership to make Kolkata a more livable city.

I am pleased to see the progress Kolkata City has made over the past 2 decades. I was fortunate to be part of this 2-decade journey from the outset. My own engagement with the city started in 1998. I was the project officer for a technical assistance grant to support the improvement in the accounting systems of the KMC. Two decades, five loans, and four grants later, we have come a long way to achieving the common plans of the KMC and ADB for the city.

A number of factors are responsible for this success. First, there is the long-term engagement. Making a city more livable, thus more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient, requires sustained commitment and planning from the city, and critical levels of investments. Second, there is the establishment of a strong multidisciplinary project management unit. Executing the works has numerous challenges since urban infrastructure projects are multidimensional and need strong multidisciplinary teams to implement them. It takes time to build such teams and their capacities, even if the city and its partners are ready to invest large sums. Third, there is strong ownership among all stakeholders. While planning is underway, works must continue to ensure that basic needs are met. The efforts must be led and sustained by the city’s leadership and supported by the residents themselves. Without the backing of political leadership and solid institutions and implementation arrangements, efforts can fizzle out before they have a chance to demonstrate success. Fourth, there is the tenacity to continue, notwithstanding challenges and temporary setbacks. This matrix of necessary institutions with the right people and processes takes time to build and effort to sustain. Projects get criticized for slow start-up, but tenacity while implementing such projects is important. Kolkata has, indeed, tenaciously carried forward and overcome these challenges over the years. We do not have same degree of success everywhere as we have seen in Kolkata, where the leadership is committed to do everything to make the projects succeed.

Much has been achieved for the city—doubling the coverage of sewerage and drainage, a climate change resilient sewerage and drainage masterplan, 24/7 water supply services coming soon to three large areas of the city and general optimization of the water services, Kolkata’s first flood forecasting and early warning system, and a comprehensive masterplan for solid waste management. Gaps remain and we still have a long way to go. We are committed to continue supporting the city on its journey to becoming more livable.

I sincerely appreciate the officials of the Economic Affairs Department of the Government of India, those in the Government of West Bengal and in particular, the mayor of Kolkata, the commissioner of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, and the project management unit of the Kolkata Environmental Improvement Investment Program (KEIIP) for being at the helm to implement the project and contribute to this publication.

“We are committed to continue supporting the city on its journey to becoming more livable.”

—Hun Kim, Director General South Asia Department

Besides the core team led by Neeta Pokhrel, principal urban development specialist, this publication benefited from contributions of several persons, including the past project officers of ADB, current and past officials of KEIIP, project beneficiaries, and other development partners supporting the KMC. I thank each and every one of them.

HUN KIM

Director General

South Asia Department

Asian Development Bank