The chaos on the roads is choking the growth of India's IT capital, Bangalore

Think rail, use buses. This appears to be the perfect solution for India's overcrowded cities seeking cheaper and more efficient public transport systems. What it entails is a bus system that operates like a suburban rail line service, by combining intelligent transport systems technology with dedicated transit ways which calls for specialised stations.

Though solid waste management and municipal finances may not sound too exciting, they have created quite a buzz. Last September, credit rating firm Crisil instituted an award for 'Excellence in Municipal Initiatives'. It invited entries in areas like financial management, internal systems, and e-governance. Crisil received a whopping 90 entries from across the country.