Strategic Management of Sustainable Development in Emerging Cities: A Participatory Assessment from Durgapur—An Indian Steel City

Sustainable development in India requires effective localization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in non-metro cities where institutional capacity and governance mechanisms vary widely. This study examines these challenges through a focused case analysis of Durgapur, a planned industrial city in eastern India and an early participant in the Smart City Mission. The objective is to identify region-specific sustainability issues that remain underemphasized in national frameworks but significantly influence the city’s ability to implement SDG-aligned initiatives. Using a qualitative case study approach supported by quantitative prioritization, the research draws on twelve semi-structured interviews with urban planners, municipal economists, industrial officials, academicians, administrators, and community representatives. Secondary sources include policy documents, urban development guidelines, and literature on participatory governance and SDG localization. Ten sustainability themes were identified from these inputs and ranked using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) based on expert-assigned weightages. The findings highlight fragmented institutional coordination as the most critical barrier to sustainability implementation in Durgapur, characterized by weak collaboration between municipal bodies, development authorities, and sectoral agencies. Insufficient real-time data, limited engagement with academic institutions, inadequate ULB capacity, and delays in fund disbursement also hinder evidence-based planning and timely execution of development projects. Additional concerns include ecological pressures from industrial activities, limited citizen participation, and weak convergence of centrally sponsored schemes. Overall, the study reveals that Durgapur’s sustainability challenges stem from intertwined governance, managerial, and participatory constraints rather than a lack of policy frameworks. Despite being a planned city, gaps in monitoring, coordination, technical expertise, and localized planning tools restrict the effective adaptation of global SDG targets to local realities. The study concludes that strengthening institutional capacity, improving inter-agency coordination, and promoting participatory, evidence-driven approaches are essential for advancing sustainable development in non-metro cities like Durgapur. These insights offer a replicable basis for understanding SDG-related governance barriers across small and medium-sized Indian cities.