The Dark Side of Urban India: 5 Worst Cities to Live In

As an ancient land with rich cultures and diverse terrains, India has some of the fastest-growing cities in the world. But, not all the urban areas of the country have a comfortable and livable environment. While the cities of Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad frequently make it to the top of the list for best places to live, other cities is often plagued with issues video crimes, pollution, poor infrastructure, and lack of basic amenities. Based on several studies and reports, here are five of the worst cities to live in India.


Patna, the state capital of Bihar, is a place with historic and cultural importance. But for a long time it has been suffering from the same challenges of many urban dwelling that make life difficult for people living in it.
According to reports, the city deals with cases of robbery, kidnapping, and extortion. Safety issues — particularly for women — continue to be a significant issue.
Roads are filled with potholes, drainage systems are inadequate, and recurrent waterlogging during monsoon seasons hampers daily routine.

Patna is one of the most polluted cities in India,with dangerously high levels of air pollution.

Too few jobs pushing young professionals to migrate.

Government hospitals are overcrowded, and students choose to stay there, and poor education in schools pushes students to venture to the metropolitan cities.



Kanpur once an industrial hub, now a city infamous for its toxic pollution

The city often appears on the list of the world’s most polluted cities, and industrial emissions further deteriorate its air quality.

With poor city planning, traffic congestion is commonplace, along with bad waste disposal.

The poor quality of air in the city contributes to respiratory diseases among residents; also, clean drinking water is scarce.



Home of the Taj Mahal, Agra suffers basic livability issues.

Garbage disposal systems are not in place leaving the city to sanitation problems.
However, an influx of tourists creates heavy traffic and poor roads.

Air pollution is a serious concern for both the residents and the historical conservation of its monuments.


Meerut is developing as an industrialised region, but serious safety and urban issues plague it.

The crime rate of the city is on the higher end, unsafe and dangerous, especially for women.

People face day to day problems like bad infrastructure, waterlogging, and sanitation issues.

Most employment focuses on established industries, compelling professionals to seek opportunities elsewhere.


Though being part of jaw as the NCR, Faridabad has a lot of potential but is facing the challenge of livability.

Thanks to industrial emissions and vehicular pollution, the city often has AQI levels exceeding 200.
Crowded lanes and bad roads are in their new avatars in daily commuting challenges.

These services are inadequate and unreliable.

These cities are rife with crime and pollution, dilapidated infrastructure and lack of opportunities. Although some improvements are being made, the living conditions remain below the standards. For anyone else thinking about moving cities in India, better infrastructure, safety, and job opportunities would be a more prudent selection.