This paper discusses various urban threats in the mega-cities of the developing countries and provides new insights into NCR planning and management. The mega cities in developing countries have been facing various economic, environmental and social threats. Further, the urban economy is not able to attract desired level of basic industries owing to weak infrastructural support.

The question as to what levels of services ought to be provided and maintained in the urban areas of various sizes, dimensions and economic activities has been debated at various forum. It has been observed that fixing norms and standards for basic urban services is an extremely complex and critical task.

Koyilandi municipality, 30 km from Kozhikode, Kerala is grabbing attention as a model of excellence in civic services in a state bogged down by inefficiency, lack of direction and corruption. Koyilandi was the first town in Kerala to take the plastic-free campaign seriously with a padayatra by Municipality Chairman K Dasan himself three years ago.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) management is considered to be one of the major problems being faced by municipalities in the developing countries around the world and National Capital Territory of Delhi in India is not an exception. Appropriate solid waste management of a city is crucial for public health and aesthetic surroundings. The objectives of the present study are to assess the strategies adopted by the various civic agencies for management of MSW and to determine the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the waste produced.

The Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was introduced in 2005 with Rs 50,000-crore central aid. Another Rs 50,000 was to be raised from the private sector. The aim was to