Articles by Varun Phadke

Varun Phadke is a postgraduate student in Urban and Regional Planning from IIT Bombay with a keen interest in spatial analytics, urban policy, and digital modelling of cities. His recent work focuses on algorithmic translation of planning regulations into 3D urban form, with a case study of Navi Mumbai. He has experience working with CityEngine, GIS platforms, and planning frameworks such as the UDCPR. With a background in architecture and a passion for data-driven planning, Varun aims to contribute to the development of smart, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments.

Hotspot of climate inequality: How Mumbai’s M/East Ward suffers from extreme heat

by , , , , and August 25, 2025

Mumbai's M/East Ward, a sprawling peripheral area including Mankhurd, Govandi, Deonar, Trombay and Chembur, embodies a tale of two cities. It is a vital economic engine, home to major industrial facilities such as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Tata Power, RCF and HPCL. At the same time, it lies on the city's fringe where its unseen have been pushed over decades, from the mountains of waste at the Deonar landfill to the marginalised communities resettled in its cramped colonies. Our study on the impact of rising urban temperatures reveals just how this deep-seated inequality is baked into the very…

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