Future Proofing of an Indian City: Lessons from Madurai

This case study describes the 'Future Proofing Cities' project in Madurai, India, which focuses on strengthening 'blue-green infrastructure' to mitigate climate risks. Implemented by Atkins in partnership with University College London (UCL) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID), with the DHAN Foundation as the delivery partner, the project resulted in the Madurai Action Plan for Blue-Green Infrastructure. The plan employs a multi-stakeholder, participatory approach to address flooding, water scarcity, and urban growth through 14 integrated projects across six themes, aiming to align city development with climate resilience and 'smart city' goals.

• The 'future proofing' approach in Madurai centers on strengthening blue-green infrastructure, which comprises 'blue infrastructure' (hydrological systems like water tanks, rivers, and canals) and 'green infrastructure' (natural habitats, ecosystems, and urban green spaces).
• Madurai faces significant climate-related hazards, specifically flooding caused by the encroachment of slum communities around water bodies and the blockage of storm water carriers. The city's water tank capacity has severely declined, with only seven of the original 46 tanks remaining in use.
• The Madurai Action Plan for Blue-Green Infrastructure, developed between February 2013 and November 2014, consists of 14 projects organized across six themes and three dimensions: Enabling Infrastructure Improvements, Policy Regulatory Improvements, and Strengthening Social Capital and Governance.
• The project utilized participatory methods to build a shared vision, such as 'water walks' (Nathivalam), which brought together government representatives, local organizations, and community members to identify issues in the degraded river corridor.
• Intermediary organizations, specifically the DHAN Foundation, were identified as essential for bridging the gap between government authorities and communities, facilitating stakeholder engagement at provincial and urban local body levels.
• The project encountered several challenges, including inconsistent support due to political and staffing changes—noting that three different commissioners served during the plan's preparation—and a general lack of comprehensive data on water distribution, sewerage, and drainage.
• The future proofing approach is being used to influence Madurai's 'smart city' proposals, advocating for the city to become India's first 'green and clean' heritage city by integrating climate-compatible development into its area-based and pan-city proposals.

APA

Kumar, A. M., & Vasimalai, M. (2016). Future Proofing of an Indian City: Lessons from Madurai. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Madurai-India_Inside_Story-Final-WEB.pdf

Chicago

Kumar, A. Madhan, and M.P. Vasimalai. Future Proofing of an Indian City: Lessons from Madurai. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2016. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Madurai-India_Inside_Story-Final-WEB.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kumar |first1=A. Madhan |last2=Vasimalai |first2=M.P. |title=Future Proofing of an Indian City: Lessons from Madurai |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=June 2016 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Madurai-India_Inside_Story-Final-WEB.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kumar2016future, author = {Kumar, A. Madhan and Vasimalai, M.P.}, title = {{Future Proofing of an Indian City: Lessons from Madurai}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2016}, month = jun, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Madurai-India_Inside_Story-Final-WEB.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }