A Semi-Systematic Global Review to Understand the Key Components Essential for Advancing the Actual Design, Planning and Implementation of Blue–Green Infrastructure in Indian Cities

Cities in developing nations like India have undergone unregulated growth and uneven urbanization, fostering economic expansion while exacerbating spatial, social, and economic inequalities. This urbanization has significantly degraded water bodies and green spaces, affecting human health and well-being. Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) emerges as a promising solution to address environmental challenges, stormwater management, social well-being, and urban heat mitigation. However, developing countries lack adequate knowledge on its design, planning, and implementation under specific local conditions. This study employs a semi-systematic literature review to identify essential components for BGI implementation in developing nations, with contextual references to India. Among 797 studies reviewed in total, only 26% focused on developing countries like China, with none addressing India specifically. Further, this review has discussed global city and country cases across the global-south and global-north to attain pertinent information from its empirical applications worldwide. In total 32 country cases have been analysed globally comprising an even larger number of city cases respectively. The findings highlight eight thematic areas critical for BGI implementation: spatial configuration, plans and policies, best practices, BGI features and components, stakeholder perceptions, barriers to adoption, local government capacity, and scientific research. Each thematic area is analysed in relation to stormwater management functions. The study emphasizes that these areas can guide urban planners and researchers in designing effective BGI strategies tailored to specific contexts. By bridging the knowledge gap in India’s development journey, this research underscores the importance of integrating BGI into urban planning to achieve sustainable development goals and address the adverse effects of rapid urbanization.