CAG Conducting Special Audit of 101 Cities to Assess Ease of Living

Bengaluru, May 8: The Comptroller and Auditor General is conducting a special audit of 101 cities to assess ease of living from citizen's perspective. This initiative unfolds against the backdrop of the 5th BRICS SAI Leaders Summit, which emphasizes urban mobility.

Urban Mobility and Governance

In his inaugural address, Murthy said Indian cities today occupy just 3 per cent of the country's land, yet contribute 60 per cent of national GDP. By 2030, 70 per cent of all new jobs will be created in cities. "Urban mobility is where governance stops being abstract and starts being personal. It is the daily referendum that citizens conduct on their governments, not at the ballot box, but at the bus stop," he noted.

Challenges in Urban Transport

Global congestion indices have risen from 20 per cent to 25 per cent as of 2025, costing each urban commuter between 100 and 180 hours of productive time every year. Murthy noted that urban mobility fails not for want of roads or rails, but for want of systems that work together. "We build metro lines that don't connect to bus networks. We build flyovers that merely shift congestion," he added.

Beyond Traditional Audits

Murthy said SAI India is now offering value-added products like departmental appreciation notes, management letters, and study reports. The CAG is also auditing multi-modal transport and first-mile, last-mile logistics in partnership with IITs, IIMs, and the World Bank. The audit is assessing ease of living across quality of life, access, sustainability, and perception.

BRICS Summit

India is hosting the three-day summit under the theme 'Ease of Living with a Focus on Urban Mobility', bringing together 42 delegates including Heads of SAIs from BRICS member countries. The summit will conclude with adoption of the BRICS SAI Work Plan 2027-28 and the Bengaluru Declaration.