City: Pune

Even as the Pune Municipal Corporation goes full throttle with its various Smart City initiatives, regular commute remains an ordeal for residents, particularly due to the terrible conditions of its busy roads.

The first line of the Pune Metro may finally be ready for launch in 2020. But while it promises to be the country’s ‘greenest’ metro, with end to end connectivity and assured rehabilitation for those displaced, there are still many concerns.

On Trans Remembrance Day, Pune’s transwomen gathered to remember those who lost their lives to transphobia, and shared tales of the stigma, bullying, harassment and fear that they face everyday.

Intense September rainfall over a couple of days devastated large parts of Pune, causing loss to life and property and exposing the unpreparedness of the city authorities. Yet, the writing on the wall had been clear for some time and called out by both environmentalists and lay citizens.

Citizens fail to understand why, even with abundant rains and a flooded city, their daily needs for water are not met and the municipal corporation has to implement water cuts in so many areas. Here’s a look at the real reasons.

Flawed design, poor implementation, and the near absence of a centralized authority has left the bus rapid transit system in shambles, with infrequent buses, shabby and ailing infrastructure, and road mishaps on these corridors being the norm.

In Pune, an upcoming elevated metro line poses threat to Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, which houses over 100 species of birds and 30 species of butterflies. Meanwhile, citizen groups are pushing for the sanctuary’s conservation

Pune is a city of many identities – it is dubbed an educational hub, an IT hub and even a city of retired people. Many of the residents are migrants who came here to work

In Pune, a two-wheeler rider wore a cooking pan on his head, to protest the crackdown on helmet-less riders. In Puducherry, the chief minister himself led a dharna against mandatory use of helmets by all two-wheeler riders. What’s behind such apparently senseless protests?

Despite rules and bans in place, attempts to beat plastic use and pollution in our cities have been hardly effective. Experts weigh in on what could be done to change that.

A reality check on the plastic waste management practices of major Indian cities shows that there has been limited success of anti-plastic policies, even as the country gears up to host World Environment Day 2018, with the theme “Beat Plastic Pollution”.

When city planners cannot think like a cyclist, there comes a need to have a person who can give insights and perspectives. Bicycle Mayor is that person, and Bengaluru is going to have one.