Most livable cities and best municipalities in India
SMART CITIES

Most livable cities and best municipalities in India

The recently announced Ease of Living Index 2020 rankings for cities indicates that Bengaluru and Pune are the most “livable” among larger cities, while Shimla and Bhubaneswar topped the charts among the smaller cities. Predictably, the municipal corporations that performed better were also that ranked well on cleanliness━Indore and Surat among the larger cities, and New Delhi and Tirupati among the smaller ones. 

A total of 111 cities participated in the exercise when the assessment was conducted last year by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. 

Bengaluru emerged as the best city on ease of living parameters with an index score of 66.70 among Indian cities with a population of more than a million. Pushing last year’s top-ranked city, Pune, to a second position, Bengaluru jumped the charts from its distant previous position at 58 in 2018. 

Ease of living was the lowest in Bareilly (UP), Dhanbad (Jharkhand), and Srinagar (J&K).

Among cities with population of less than a million, Shimla was ranked first followed by Bhubaneswar. 

Muzaffarpur in Bihar had the lowest score. 

Here are the tables of the top 10 rankings in each category:

Top 10 livable cities with population over 1 million in 2020

1. Bengaluru 66.70

2. Pune 66.27

3. Ahmedabad 64.87

4. Chennai 62.61

5. Surat 61.73

6. Navi Mumbai 61.60

7. Coimbatore 59.72

8. Vadodara 59.24

9. Indore 58.58

10. Greater Mumbai 58.23

 

Top 10 livable cities with population of less than 1 million in 2020


1. Shimla 60.90

2. Bhubaneswar 59.85

3. Silvassa 58.43

4. Kakinada 56.84

5. Salem 56.40

6. Vellore 56.38

7. Gandhinagar 56.25

8. Gurugram 56.00

9. Davanagere 55.25

10. Tiruchirappalli 55.24

 

10 best performing municipalities of cities with population of more than 1 million in 2020 

 

  1. Indore 66.08

  2. Surat 60.82

  3. Bhopal 59.04

  4. Pimpri Chinchwad 59.00

  5. Pune 58.79

  6. Ahmedabad 57.60

  7. Raipur 54.98

  8. Greater Mumbai 54.36

  9. Visakhapatnam 52.77

  10. Vadodara 52.68

 

10 best performing municipalities of cities with population of less than 1 million in 2020 

 

  1. New Delhi 52.92

  2. Tirupati 51.69

  3. Gandhinagar 51.59

  4. Karnal 51.39

  5. Salem 49.04

  6. Tiruppur 48.92

  7. Bilaspur 47.99

  8. Udaipur 47.77

  9. Jhansi 47.04

  10. Tirunelveli 47.02

The recently announced Ease of Living Index 2020 rankings for cities indicates that Bengaluru and Pune are the most “livable” among larger cities, while Shimla and Bhubaneswar topped the charts among the smaller cities. Predictably, the municipal corporations that performed better were also that ranked well on cleanliness━Indore and Surat among the larger cities, and New Delhi and Tirupati among the smaller ones. A total of 111 cities participated in the exercise when the assessment was conducted last year by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Bengaluru emerged as the best city on ease of living parameters with an index score of 66.70 among Indian cities with a population of more than a million. Pushing last year’s top-ranked city, Pune, to a second position, Bengaluru jumped the charts from its distant previous position at 58 in 2018. Ease of living was the lowest in Bareilly (UP), Dhanbad (Jharkhand), and Srinagar (J&K).Among cities with population of less than a million, Shimla was ranked first followed by Bhubaneswar. Muzaffarpur in Bihar had the lowest score. Here are the tables of the top 10 rankings in each category:Top 10 livable cities with population over 1 million in 20201. Bengaluru 66.702. Pune 66.273. Ahmedabad 64.874. Chennai 62.615. Surat 61.736. Navi Mumbai 61.607. Coimbatore 59.728. Vadodara 59.249. Indore 58.5810. Greater Mumbai 58.23 Top 10 livable cities with population of less than 1 million in 20201. Shimla 60.902. Bhubaneswar 59.853. Silvassa 58.434. Kakinada 56.845. Salem 56.406. Vellore 56.387. Gandhinagar 56.258. Gurugram 56.009. Davanagere 55.2510. Tiruchirappalli 55.24 10 best performing municipalities of cities with population of more than 1 million in 2020  Indore 66.08Surat 60.82Bhopal 59.04Pimpri Chinchwad 59.00Pune 58.79Ahmedabad 57.60Raipur 54.98Greater Mumbai 54.36Visakhapatnam 52.77Vadodara 52.68 10 best performing municipalities of cities with population of less than 1 million in 2020  New Delhi 52.92Tirupati 51.69Gandhinagar 51.59Karnal 51.39Salem 49.04Tiruppur 48.92Bilaspur 47.99Udaipur 47.77Jhansi 47.04Tirunelveli 47.02

Next Story
Real Estate

Integrated Waterproofing Strategies

Waterproofing buildings used to be an annual pre-monsoon affair but the evolution of real-estate development has changed that approach. In new developments, developers are weaving waterproofing solutions into both the design and construction phases, an approach that Nikhil Madan, Managing Director, Mahima Group, says, “is all about ensuring lasting durability [of the building] and keeping lifecycle risks including water seepage and extensive maintenance to a minimum.”Watertight by designAluminium formwork systems aren’t commonly thought of as a waterproofing tool but at the Mahima Group,..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

GROHE Showcases Water-Led Design At Milan

GROHE unveiled its GROHE SPA Aqua Sanctuary at Milan Design Week 2026, transforming Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato into an immersive showcase of water, design and wellbeing. Built on the philosophy of ‘Wellbeing Through Water’, the installation reimagined bathrooms as holistic spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-care.The Aqua Sanctuary was presented through three interconnected sanctums. The first showcased the 3D-printed GROHE SPA AquaTree shower and faucet, highlighting bespoke innovation and biophilic design. The second featured the Atrio Private Collection and GROHE SPA x Buster..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Rahee Group Expands Rail Manufacturing Capacity

Rahee Group has outlined a multi-year investment roadmap to expand its operational footprint and strengthen manufacturing capabilities for India’s growing railway and urban transit sector. The Group is expanding in Odisha with a new Track Component Casting Unit, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 April 2026 in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.The Group’s flagship EPC arm, Rahee Infratech Ltd, continues to focus on complex rail infrastructure projects, including track systems, bridges, viaducts and ballastless infrastructure. Its wholly owned subsidi..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

-->