OPEDS

The Bombay Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), Mumbai’s public bus service, has been an integral part of the life of the city’s residents for a century, supporting its thriving economy. Until a decade ago, it was a source of pride and a model for other Indian cities. However, its decline is now evident, largely due to a lack of transparency in decision-making regarding its operation and revival. As an environmental activist advocating for sustainable cities and a lifelong BEST user, I find its current state deeply saddening. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and BEST directly oversee the service's operations…

Across Indian cities, resettlement policies have often failed to provide long-term solutions for displaced communities, leaving them with insecure tenure, inadequate infrastructure, and limited growth opportunities. These challenges become even more apparent in resettlement schemes such as Chennai's Perumbakkam, where displaced communities were relocated into government-built apartments nearly 30 kilometres away. Antony, one of the first allottees of a plot in Chennai's Ambedkar Nagar, compares plots and apartments. He explains that having land allows gradual construction and improvements. "This is best. Here, with land, we can construct over time. There (in Perumbakkam), they cannot. There, even if they have money,…

The Karnataka state budgets for 2025–26 present an ambitious blueprint for Bengaluru. With allocations that rival national infrastructure plans — ₹40,000 crore for tunnel corridors, ₹8,916 crore for a double-decker flyover, and ₹27,000 crore for the newly coined “Bengaluru Business Corridor” the government appears determined to transform the city’s landscape. But this grand investment raises a deeper question: Is this a vision for a people-centred city or simply an infrastructure-centric spectacle? What emerges is a familiar story, not unique to Bengaluru but emblematic of urban development across India. Faced with growing chaos, the instinct is to “throw concrete at the…

In the larger narrative on climate change and urbanisation, the plight of India’s small and mid-sized cities has mostly slipped through the cracks. Not that the global and national media is oblivious to the stellar rankings, which highlight that 15 of top 20 most polluted cities are in India. However, the specific contexts in which this toxic air has been brewing are not well looked into and understood. While the metropolises hog the spotlight, these smaller cities housing millions are silently choking under a haze of neglect.  Our recent report “Declining Air Quality in Small and Mid-sized Cities” highlights the…

In 2022, with the world just recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, it didn’t seem extraordinary when elections to the richest civic body, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) were postponed. Though the reasons for postponement were a case in the Supreme Court about OBC seats and an earlier delimitation exercise, any aberrations to the existing systems were acceptable in the backdrop of two ghastly COVID-19 waves and Omicron.  But decisions that seemed fine at that point have outlived the concession. In Mumbai, as the city prepares for the state assembly elections, the elephant in the room is actually the BMC elections. Not to…

Maharashtra, one of India’s most urbanised States, faces a transportation crisis that has snowballed into a public health, environmental, and economic challenge. With over half its population residing in urban areas, Maharashtra is home to 28 municipal corporations — the highest in the country. Cities like Mumbai and Pune are struggling with the relentless surge in vehicle ownership, which has led to traffic congestion, alarming pollution levels, and a steep rise in road crashes.  Despite these pressing concerns, many cities have pursued an approach focused on expanding road infrastructure, relying on flyovers and highways to absorb traffic overflow. However, experts…

Launched in 2022, the Tamil Nadu Urban Employment Scheme (TNUES) aims to provide employment opportunities to urban households through local public works at minimum wages. With this initiative, Tamil Nadu joined Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand, which were implementing similar programmes, essentially extending MGNREGA to urban areas. Economists and urban development scholars have advocated these programmes, especially post the COVID-19 pandemic, as an important social safety net for the livelihood security of urban informal workers. In Tamil Nadu and other states, such schemes highlight the need and demand for social security measures. Implementation through urban local bodies This article delves into the implementation of…

Public open spaces in Indian cities are scarce, falling below the WHO (World Health Organisation) standard of 9 sq.m. per person. Traditionally, Indian streets have served as multifunctional spaces, accommodating various users and activities, and playing a vital role in daily life. For example, Marine Drive in Mumbai is a popular spot for joggers and fitness enthusiasts in the early mornings and transforms into a social hub during evenings where people gather to relax, watch the sunset, and enjoy street food.  While urban planning has historically looked at streets merely as routes for mobility, the Smart Cities Mission has shifted…

As India experiences economic growth, the accompanying rise in motorisation and vehicular traffic brings a heightened risk of road crash injuries and fatalities. With two-wheelers dominating Indian roads (these comprise 75% of all registered vehicles), the safety of their riders, particularly children, becomes paramount. Road crashes often stem from non-compliance with traffic rules, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of safety gear, with helmets being a critical yet frequently overlooked safety aspect. In Tamil Nadu, two-wheelers accounted for the highest fatalities (44.22%) in 2023. Around 29.9% of these fatalities were attributed to non-compliance with helmet usage. According to the World Health Organization…

அனல்மின் நிலையங்களின் சாம்பல் கழிவுகள், ஆற்றில் வெளியிடப்படும் சூடான நீர், எண்ணெய் நிறுவனங்களின் கழிவுகள் ஆகியவற்றால் பாதிப்படைந்துள்ள எண்ணூர் முதல் பழவேற்காடு வரையிலான மீனவ மக்களின் வாழ்வாதரத்தை மேலும் மோசமாக்கியுள்ளது ஒரு புதிய பிரச்சனை. செய்தி சேகரிப்பதற்காக 7 ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் மேலாக நான் கொசஸ்தலை ஆறு, முகத்துவாரம், பக்கிங்காம் பகுதிகளுக்குச் சென்று வந்துள்ளேன். அங்குள்ள மீனவர்களுக்கு முக்கியமான பிரச்சனையே அனல்மின் நிலையங்கள் மற்றும் தொழிற்சாலைகளின் கழிவுகளால் நீர்நிலைகள் பாதிக்கப்படுவதுதான். ஆனால், இந்த முறை முற்றிலும் வேறுபட்ட ஒரு பிரச்சனைக்காக அங்கு சென்றிருந்தேன். Read more: Oil spill in Chennai’s Manali area can cause irreparable damage to Ennore Creek wetland நாங்கள் படகில் சென்று கொண்டிருக்கையில் கொசஸ்தலை ஆற்றின் பெரும்பாலான பகுதிகளில் கட்டிடக் கழிவுகளை கொட்டி வைத்ததுபோல மேடு மேடாகத் தெரிந்தது என்னை ஆச்சர்யத்துக்கும் அதிர்ச்சிக்கும் ஆளாக்கியது. அப்போது என் படகிலிருந்த மீனவர் ஒருவர் அந்த மேட்டில்…