Infrastructure | Citizen Matters

Bike sharing is good, but will big city residents risk cycling to their destinations?

August 16, 2018 Manasi Paresh Kumar

Indian city roads witness a David-Goliath tussle everyday between cycles and motorised transport. And the latter still holds a big advantage. As more and more cities formally launch bike sharing programmes, will the commoner take to cycling in a big way, given the safety concerns?

City buzz: India’s most livable city, transport workers’ stir, opening of IKEA and more

August 14, 2018 News Desk

Here’s your chance once again to catch up on important news from our cities, reported over the week gone by.

City buzz: Mumbai suburban rail risks, ATM scam shocker in Kolkata and villagers’ stir in Pune

August 6, 2018 News Desk

In case you’ve been too busy to track the news from India’s cities, here’s a quick wrap of some of the headlines from last week. Catch up on the latest with City Buzz.

Creating ‘incentives’ for good roads in the city

August 6, 2018 Akshay Agarwal

Cities in India dread what the monsoon rains do to their roads. But why are our roads of such pathetic quality? And is there anything we can do to change the status quo?

City buzz: Maratha protests in Mumbai, Delhi pollution dip and UN award for India’s solar powered airport

July 30, 2018 News Desk

What’s making news in our cities? If you missed some of the interesting and important developments over the week gone by, here’s your chance to catch up.

Mumbai monsoons: Are citizens passing up a chance to solve the flooding issue?

July 25, 2018 Revathi Siva Kumar

Heard of Advanced Locality Management (ALM) in Mumbai? It is a programme under which citizens of a locality can get involved and work with the municipality to ensure resolution of civic issues. Can ALMs not work towards solving the city’s annual monsoon misery, one locality at a time?

MNS protest against Mumbai potholes is a bigger attack against pedestrians!

July 23, 2018 Vidyadhar Date

To protest potholes, axe-wielding men of the Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) dig up a well-laid footpath. Government authorities evict vendors from station premises and allow car parking in the space. Who cares for the pedestrian in Mumbai?

City buzz: Mumbai monsoon woes, Delhi garbage crisis unabated even as Centre eyes new schemes

July 16, 2018 News Desk

Here’s a quick look at some important headlines from the week gone by, pertaining to our cities and urban development. Stay up to date on what’s happening!

Use your tech prowess to end manual scavenging in cities

July 13, 2018 News Desk

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has launched a Technology Challenge, inviting entries proposing tech solutions for cleaning of sewerage systems and septic tanks. If you can come up with a technology that can end the curse of manual scavenging, apply before August 14th.

What’s behind Delhi’s crazy electricity demand this summer?

July 11, 2018 Down to Earth Staff

Delhi supplies the cheapest electricity compared to most other mega cities. That, combined with badly designed buildings and poor AC standards, is leading to a whopping, unsustainable consumption of energy, finds a CSE analysis.

With SC ruling on AAP vs LG, will these schemes see the light of day in Delhi?

July 9, 2018 Aruna Natarajan

From CCTVs across the city to more mohalla clinics and midday meal interventions, many schemes proposed for Delhi and its people have remained suspended for months, thanks to the turf war between the government and the Lieutenant Governor. Will that change now?

City buzz: SC verdict on Delhi vs Centre, Mumbai bridge collapse and more

July 7, 2018 News Desk

Quick weekend reading for you — a recap of some of the important headlines from our cities. Stay abreast of what’s happening.

Three years on, where does the Hubballi-Dharwad Smart City project stand?

July 6, 2018 Manasi Paresh Kumar

Out of 27 projects proposed by these twin cities in North Karnataka under the Smart Cities Mission, only one has gotten off to a start. An interview with the Special Officer of the SPV on the challenges and overall progress so far.

Whose cities are these and how smart will they be?

July 4, 2018 Himanshu Upadhyaya

A new report from policy think tank, Housing and Land Rights Network, has strongly criticised the Smart Cities Mission for neglecting the rights and concerns of the poor and marginalised. A look at what the report recommends for truly inclusive cities.

Oldest ‘matha’ in Hubli leads the way in waste management

July 3, 2018 Manasi Paresh Kumar

At the Siddharoodha Matha in Hubli, the community kitchen cooks for and feeds almost 6000 people everyday. Yet, hardly any waste from it reaches the landfills.