"The process of urbanisation in a developing country is both inevitable and rapid. The Census of 1991 placed India's urban population at 217.17 million, an increase of 247 per cent over the 1957 Census. Despite this phenomenal growth, little attention has been paid to urban local government. Addressing this lacuna, this book critically evaluates city management in the four burgeoning metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Calcutta.".

"Based on research through questionnaires, field trips and interviews, Marina Pinto voices concern about the existing modes of civic management and argues strongly for a participatory model that would reflect the empowerment of the people without sacrificing the need for professionalism in the prompt and efficient delivery of services.

This study of city management will be of interest to students and professionals in the fields of urban studies, local government, urban/civic management, public administration, political science, and policy/planning, as also to government and non-government development agencies."--BOOK JACKET.