Alliance for City Transformation (ACT) Convenes in Gurugram to Reimagine Sarhaul as a ‘Model Urban Village’ for Climate Resilience

Gurugram, December 5, 2025 – The Alliance for City Transformation (ACT), an initiative by Praja Foundation and YLAC (Young Leaders for Active Citizenship), hosted by the Raahgiri Foundation, held its second major convening yesterday to address the critical intersection of urban regeneration and climate resilience.
The event, titled “ACT on the Ground,” brought together a diverse group of urban planners, corporate leaders, local administration, and community representatives to examine the Sarhaul Urban Village precinct in Udyog Vihar. The gathering sought to move beyond policy dialogue and identify tangible, scalable interventions to transform unplanned urban pockets into climate-resilient living spaces.

The session began with an experiential walk commencing at Gully 7 and traversing through Sanath Road. Participants observed the stark contrast between the heat-stressed, concrete-heavy interiors of the village and the tree-lined, pedestrian-friendly Sanath Road—a “model street” developed by Raahgiri Foundation that demonstrates the cooling power of green infrastructure.
“We often view urban villages solely through the lens of their deficits—lack of water, congestion, or waste,” said Nidhi Madan, Director of Raahgiri Foundation. “Today’s walk was about flipping that narrative. Sarhaul isn’t just a challenge; it is a potential ‘Climate Lab.’ If we can solve for heat stress and water security here, in this high-density fabric, we create a blueprint for the entire city.”
Following the walk, a multi-stakeholder roundtable was held at the Nagarro office. The discussion focused on dissolving the invisible boundary between the corporate wealth of Udyog Vihar and the residential reality of the workforce living in Sarhaul.
Key themes discussed included:
Micro-Interventions: Moving away from failed master plans to implementing “micro-solutions” like shaded corners, permeable pavements, and community “living rooms” on streets.
Water Resilience: The urgent need to revive the local village pond, transforming it from a flooding hazard into a critical urban sponge for cooling and groundwater recharge.
Social Inclusion: Ensuring that infrastructure upgrades prioritize the dignity and safety of the pedestrians and cyclists who power Gurugram’s industrial engine.
Speakers included Manas Human (CEO, Nagarro), Dr. Mukta Naik (Urbanization & Migration), Jiyoti Yadav (Councillor, Ward 18, Gurugram), Rwitee Mandal (Safetipin), Shubhi Kesarwani (Gurujal) and Sharmilaji, Sakshi and Preeti (Gurgaon Ki Awaz). They emphasized that climate resilience in urban villages cannot be achieved in silos. It requires a convergence of corporate CSR, administrative will, and community ownership.
“The goal of ACT is to foster exactly this kind of collaboration,” stated Venika Menon, YLAC. “By bringing decision-makers out of conference rooms and onto the streets, we are grounding our strategies in reality. The insights from Sarhaul will now help shape a actionable roadmap for the ‘Model Urban Village’ initiative.”
About the Alliance The Alliance for City Transformation (ACT) is a collaborative platform by Praja Foundation and YLAC, dedicated to empowering city leaders and stakeholders to build inclusive, sustainable urban futures.