Following the 1968 collapse of the United Front government and the subsequent implementation of President’s rule in West Bengal, the Ford Foundation sought to finalize its Basic Development Plan for Calcutta. Officials characterized this initiative as a critical phase for the city, which they viewed as a significant urban center within the developing world. The organization aimed to transition from theoretical planning frameworks to practical development execution, intending to secure the progress achieved during the preceding seven years. This perspective was mirrored by the World Bank under Robert McNamara, which identified rapid urbanization as a primary challenge for India and other developing nations, ranking it alongside critical issues such as family planning and agricultural food production.
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