Navigating the Future: India’s Ring Road Developments
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Earmarked lands notified for ring road development are the fertile lands of many small farmers who fear the loss of their livelihoods at the stake of such projects.
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Riverside Renaissance: The Rising Trend of Riverfront Projects
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While these projects aim to beautify surroundings, there are fears of potential harm to river ecosystems and biodiversity loss.
Read MoreRevolutionizing Transactions: UPI’s Digital Surge into India’s Heartlands
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The surge has been particularly high in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and is driven by improved digital infrastructure, a rise in last-mile delivery, and the growth of online businesses post-pandemic. Notably, nearly 2/3 of Paytm’s (a popular Indian e-wallet) new users are from such cities.
Read MoreSurveillance on the Rise: Small Cities in India Embracing CCTV Security
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The exponential rise of surveillance and the associated risk of privacy violations are also concerning. The lack of clear guidelines for installing CCTV cameras in public places creates confusion and leaves room for potential misuse.
Read MoreHow are Indian Cities improving Public Toilet Facilities?
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While challenges related to the maintenance of public toilets persist, efforts are being made by citizens & civil society to enhance the overall quality of life for the public.
Read MoreStreamlining Street Vending: Are there Vending Zones in your city?
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To ease such complexities, diverse stakeholder interests have to be considered during planning. Well-represented Town Vending Committees (TVCs) are vital for enforcing hawker policies. While there are certain guiding principles to set up vending zones, TVCs should survey to estimate local requirements.
Read MoreSmall Cities, Big Change: G20's Impact on the Urban Indian Landscape
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India's G20 Presidency in 2023 has featured over 200 meetings held across 60 cities. Hosting 125 nationalities, the decentralized organization of the global summit has been an opportunity for the smaller cities.
Read MoreMonitoring India's Air: Quest towards Clearer Skies
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Recent expansion of the monitoring network beyond major metropolitan cities has shown positive outcomes. The inclusion of previously overlooked smaller towns has democratised fund allocation through initiatives like the National Clean Air Program.
Read MoreCommunity Health Centers: Lifeline of Small Towns in India
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CHCs in India grapple with specialist staff shortages, inadequate funding, and limited resources. This hinders their ability to provide comprehensive healthcare services, especially to the underprivileged.
Read MoreFinding a spot: Are Indian cities running out of parking spaces?
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ITDP suggests designing well-regulated facilities with electronic metres and variable pricing to discourage illegal parking. With rising motorization, the implementation of such policies is essential for even smaller cities in India to effectively manage parking requirements.
Read MoreRipples of Change: Commitment to Reviving Urban Lakes
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Historically, lakes have served as vital lifelines of sustenance and green recreational spaces with immense socio-cultural value for urban centers. During heavy rainfall, lakes act as natural sponges, mitigating floods by absorbing excess water. However, urban expansion poses challenges of encroachment and neglect from authorities.
Read MoreFlowing Forward: Innovative Solutions to India’s Urban Water Supply Challenges
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Many cities are exploring tech-driven solutions for water leak detection systems. While Udaipur has employed satellite-based radar analysis, Delhi has planned to adopt helium-based technology. On an experimental basis, Pune MC has begun using acoustic sensors, and in Mira Bhayandar, “smart” meters have replaced old mechanical ones.
Read MoreGrowing Rooftop Solar Industry in India: Policies and Challenges
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In May 2023, the data released by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) revealed that over 1 GW of rooftop solar capacity was added between September 2022 and March 2023 alone, which has the potential to power around 7 lakh households for a year.
Read MoreEvolving innovative ways to manage municipal waste through community participation
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Citizens’ participation and the integration of private stakeholders form the foundation of an effective waste management system in urban areas. Therefore, educating citizens on source segregation is the way forward in waste management.
Read MoreCommunity based flood warning systems- Is this the secret to save our cities from flash floods?
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CBEWS empowers the community or individuals to act within sufficient time in response to the disaster they face or might face. Such a system calls for participatory approach for establishment of communication and dissemination systems, and a response system as well.
Read MoreFrom Trash to Treasure: Inspiring E-Waste Management Initiatives Across India
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Initiatives like The Kabadiwala and Karo Sambhav in cities like Bhopal, Indore, Durg, & Mapusa have helped city dwellers to manage their e-waste efficiently. Jamshedpur has joined hands with Hulladek Recycling Pvt Ltd. to make the city e-waste-free. Moreover, e-waste artworks are gaining popularity among artists and are an innovative way of using discarded materials in captivating works of art.
Read MoreA shift towards Green Mobility in India
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Green mobility promotes the use of sustainable transportation modes, that is, modes that are economical and environmentally friendly. India’s transportation sector accounts for 15% of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, a shift to green mobility options seems to be a step in the right direction.
Read MoreHow do citizen voices reach the authorities in smaller cities?
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These RWAs, established under the Societies Registration Act, operate within a defined legal framework in line with India’s constitution. They wield substantial influence and potential in city transformation and effectively prompt local governments to prioritize the welfare of residents. Yet, within this framework, the housing societies and RWAs face a multitude of challenges while also creating some themselves.
Read MoreHow Cities Are Using Green Bonds to Fund Sustainable Projects
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Green bonds are an emerging financial tool used to fund environmentally beneficial projects. Unlike regular bonds, green bonds are designated explicitly for initiatives like renewable energy, energy efficiency, waste management, and green infrastructure.
Read More‘Digging’ our own holes: the case of Indian city roads
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There is a lack of a streamlined system to plan and monitor road digging activities in cities, and the overlapping responsibilities among various civic agencies can create challenges.
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