New Delhi continues to be worst Indian city for quality of living; Hyderabad & Pune rank higher in Mercer 2017 survey

Highlights:

1. New Delhi continued to be ranked lowest in quality of life for the second year in a row with scores remaining constant at 161

2. Both Hyderabad and Pune cities ranked higher for quality of living than the country’s more traditional business centres, Mumbai and New Delhi that ranked 154 and 161 respectively

3. In terms of city infrastructure, Mumbai is ranked the highest at 141, followed by Kolkata 149 and Pune 151 

India's capital New Delhi has been ranked as the worst city in the country in terms of quality of living for a second consecutive year with a global ranking of 161, The Hindustan Times reported citing Mercer 2017 Quality of Living Index survey.

According to the survey findings, the country's southern city Bengaluru has ranked as the lowest in terms of city infrastructure. 

The survey said that Indian cities have performed poorly on a globally recognised survey that ranks cities in terms of how it is to live and work in them.

Mercer is the world's largest human resources consulting firm headquartered in New York. 

The findings showed that Hyderabad city in Andhra Pradesh state came down by five ranks to 144 from its last year's ranking of 139 in the survey. 

Similarly, Pune city in Maharashtra state and Bengaluru city in Karnataka state have both slipped one notch to 145 and 146, respectively in Mercer's 2017 Quality of Living Index ranking.  

“The survey highlights that Indian cities that have been part of the survey haven’t made much progress on the quality of living scale since last year,” the news report said quoting Mercer principal and India practice leader-global mobility, Ruchika Pal, as saying. 

However, Chennai city in Tamil Nadu has fared well in Mercer's latest survey as the city's score has marginally improved mainly on account of public transport, including buses and a recently expanded two-line metro system, and improved availability of expat housing, it said.

Among the surveyed Indian cities, New Delhi continued to be ranked lowest in quality of life for the second year in a row with scores remaining constant at 161, cited the report.

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Mercer 2017 Survey of Indian Cities on Quality of Life:

Both Hyderabad and Pune cities ranked higher for quality of living than the country’s more traditional business centres, Mumbai and New Delhi that ranked 154 and 161 respectively, according to the report.

“Hyderabad is not at all an unattractive city for employment for talent unlike Chennai or Kolkata. Areas like Gachibowli, the new Hyderabad, with better and cheaper housing, good schools and good quality of living attract talent," the report said quoting executive search firm Korn Ferry's chairman and regional managing director of Navnit Singh, as saying.

In terms of city infrastructure, Mumbai is ranked the highest at 141, followed by Kolkata at 149 and Pune at 151. Bengaluru was rated the lowest at 177 in city infrastructure ranking. 

Mercer 2017 Survey of Indian Cities on Infrastructure:

The survey said that Austria's capital Vienna topped the list for the eighth consecutive year. Singapore is the top Asian city on the list, and is ranked 25th.

Mercer 2017 Survey on Top 10 Global Cities on Quality of Life:

According to the news report, in 2017, Mercer also separately ranked cities in terms of their quality of infrastructure.Singapore topped the city infrastructure ranking.

New Zealand and Australia continue to rank high in Mercer's 2017 Global Quality of Living Index: Auckland (3), Sydney (10), Wellington (15), and Melbourne (16) all remain in the top 20.

Mercer’s annual index is aimed at helping companies decide on compensation for expat employees, but has, over the years, also become an important factor for people considering moving to another city for work, the report said. 

“The success of foreign assignments is influenced by issues such as ease of travel and communication, sanitation standards, personal safety, and access to public services,”it said quoting Mercer principal and the person responsible for its quality of living research, Slagin Parakatil, as saying.

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