Archives - Question of Cities

How open spaces impact the ecological health of cities

When urban development, largely understood to mean construction, gathers pace to accommodate more people and commerce, one of the first casualties is open spaces. It is easy to “let go” of open spaces in the name of ‘development’ but this…

Footpaths of India: Microcosms of our lives and shared spaces

Footpaths are shared spaces in India’s cities. From pedestrians who walk for work or for leisure to vendors who offer all kinds of services in the informal markets, from authorised or unauthorised parking spots to the occasional impromptu performances, footpaths…

India’s missing pavements, thanks to car-centric planning and official apathy

Life happens on pavements or footpaths in cities across India. A mind-boggling number of people walk to work or for leisure every day and the informal economy of hawkers and service providers supports millions. Yet, pavements are either absent on…

Footpaths in India: The dangerous gap between policy and reality

Walking on Indian footpaths is like a hurdle race given the many obstacles present on them. We do not need walkability studies to show how un-walkable our pavements are. Vendors, stall-owners, and other informal market people find themselves constantly pitted…

Mapping neighbourhoods, one by one, to improve walkability

Except in a few select areas of the city, pavements in Mumbai are a poor apology for walking infrastructure and common space. Their design, accessibility and maintenance needs a close look – and an overhaul. This is despite more than…

Where pavements hold space for conversations and ideas, besides mobility

Some cities in the world see pavements as insignificant in the urban design, a waste of space on car-centric roads, but other cities have done wonders with them. Besides providing open mobility space for pedestrians and cyclists, pavements were turned…

After COP28: The implications for India’s cities and vulnerable communities

For the millions in India’s cities, the recently-concluded annual climate summit, or COP28, appears inconsequential and detached from their lived realities of heat waves, bitter cold, and unprecedented rainfall. The urban poor and marginalised communities find themselves on the periphery…

India must lead the climate conversation on mitigation, with urgency

Climate change negotiations mean little unless India is prepared to commit to phasing out fossil fuels and evolve a clear framework on mitigation. The annual UN Conference of Parties this year, or COP28, included the phrase “transitioning away” from fossil…

Climate and health: Historic COP28 declaration but India has miles to go

Climate change has wreaked havoc with people’s health all over the world for decades but this theme got its due space at the annual climate summit, the UN Conference of Parties, only in December 2023. As climate impact intensifies and…

COP28 skirts climate justice, shies away from phasing out fossil fuels

Although COP28, hosted by the oil-producing nation of UAE and controversial in some measure, important decisions and initiatives were launched to reduce the effects of climate change. The decision to operationalise the Loss and Damage Fund on the first day…