In March 2025, Nāgrika organised the Power of  Nāgrika Conclave and created an intimate space where everyday struggles, local solutions, and the spirit of small-city citizens took centre stage. The Conclave brought together changemakers from across India’s smaller cities for two days of reflection, dialogue, and inspiration. 

The rules for biomedical waste disposal are clear. The guidelines exist, the penalties are defined, and the responsibility is assigned. Yet, in India’s small cities, biomedical waste continues to find its way into drains, water bodies, open fields, and garbage dumps. Why does this happen? Why do small cities struggle to manage their medical waste safely?

बायोमेडिकल कचरा निपटाने के नियम तो स्पष्ट हैं। दिशा-निर्देश मौजूद हैं, जुर्माने तय हैं, और जिम्मेदारी भी तय की गई है। फिर भी, भारत के छोटे शहरों में बायोमेडिकल कचरा नालों, जल स्रोतों, खुले मैदानों और कूड़ेदानों में मिलता रहता है। ऐसा क्यों होता है? छोटे शहर अपने मेडिकल कचरे को सुरक्षित तरीके से प्रबंधित करने में क्यों असमर्थ हैं?

As smog thickens and PM2.5 soars, small cities are gasping for breath, yet many remain invisible on pollution maps. In Nāgrika’s Climate Change Series, Part 4 unpacks how climate change fuels toxic air, why monitoring falls short, and what’s at stake when the country’s most polluted places go unnoticed in policy response.

भारत की आबादी धीरे-धीरे बूढ़ी होती जा रही है और 2050 तक यह दोगुनी हो जाएगी, जिससे स्वास्थ्य सेवा, आवास और सामाजिक व्यवस्था जैसी नई चुनौतियाँ सामने आएंगी। छोटे शहरों में बुजुर्गों को समर्थन की कमी का सामना करना पड़ता है, लेकिन सामुदायिक प्रयास जैसे पीढ़ियों के बीच कार्यक्रम, वरिष्ठ नागरिक आवास परियोजनाएं और पुनर्जीवित सार्वजनिक स्थान मददगार साबित हो रहे हैं। मानसिक स्वास्थ्य और बुजुर्गों के प्रति दुव्यवहार जैसे गंभीर मुद्दों के बीच क्या भारत अपने बुजुर्गों के लिए उम्र के अनुकू

India’s population is greying and is set to double by 2050, bringing new challenges for healthcare, housing, and societal structures. In smaller cities, the elderly face gaps in support, but community-driven solutions are stepping up: intergenerational programs, senior living projects, and revitalised public spaces. As mental health and elder abuse become pressing concerns, will India embrace age-friendly spaces and policies to ensure its seniors thrive?

बेंगलुरु के जल संकट की खबरें बड़ी सुर्खियां बनती हैं, लेकिन भारत के छोटे शहर धीरे-धीरे सूखते जा रहे हैं। होसपेटे, मसूरी, और देवनहल्ली जैसे शहरों में औद्योगिक प्रदूषण से लेकर भूजल स्तर गिरने तक, पानी की समस्या लगातार बढ़ती जा रही है। नई-नई योजनाएं और वर्षा जल संचयन अभियान तो शुरू हो रहे हैं, लेकिन क्या ये छोटे शहर बढ़ते संकट से बेहतर तरीके से निपट पाएंगे?

While Bengaluru’s water woes make headlines, India’s smaller cities are quietly running dry. From industrial pollution to vanishing borewells, water stress is deepening across towns like Hosapete, Mussoorie, and Devanahalli. As innovative schemes and rainwater harvesting campaigns emerge, can these overlooked municipalities outpace a looming crisis? Are Smaller Cities Facing Bigger Water Troubles?

Ring road projects are becoming a key strategy for enhancing connectivity and boosting economic development: Chennai's Outer Ring Road has influenced the development of nearby satellite townships. While they promise improved infrastructure, these projects often stir concerns around land acquisition and environmental impact. With farmers protesting and debates over its effectiveness, what direction will ring road projects take in shaping the future of Indian cities?

रिंग रोड प्रोजेक्ट्स कनेक्टिविटी बढ़ाने और आर्थिक विकास को प्रोत्साहित करने की अहम रणनीति बनते जा रहे हैं। जैसे चेन्नई का आउटर रिंग रोड पास के सैटेलाइट टाउनशिप्स के विकास को प्रभावित कर रहा है। ये प्रोजेक्ट बेहतर इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर का वादा करते हैं, लेकिन जमीन अधिग्रहण और पर्यावरणीय प्रभाव को लेकर चिंता भी बढ़ा देते हैं। किसान विरोध कर रहे हैं और उनकी प्रभावशीलता पर बहस जारी है। ऐसे में, रिंग रोड प्रोजेक्ट्स भारत के शहरों के भविष्य को किस दिशा में ले जाएंगे?

Street vending in Indian cities walks a tightrope between livelihood and legality. While cities like Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram experiment with thoughtful vending zones, others wrestle with relocation woes and poor infrastructure. Activists push for inclusive planning, but implementation lags behind. As civic bodies navigate contested footpaths, vending zones remain a work in progress. Are street vendors getting the right space?

In Srirangapatna, a group of passionate volunteers is creating ripples of change in the story of reviving urban lakes. From historical conservation practices to citizen-led movements in cities like Coimbatore and Miyapur, these efforts show how communities are coming together to transform neglected waters into vital resources. In this wave of urban lake revitalisation, how are communities leading the way?

AI is taking over Indian streets, but through smart surveillance systems to reshape how traffic is monitored. From Kerala’s new automated enforcement rollout to Chandigarh’s surge in contactless challans, cities are leaning on technology to bring order to the chaos. But can intelligent systems truly manage human unpredictability? And what happens when the roads aren’t ready for the tech?

Potholes aren’t just a nuisance; they’re turning Indian roads into death traps. From Madhubani’s pond-sized craters to Bengaluru’s “historical landmark” pothole, the issue seems far from resolved despite hefty maintenance budgets. While rain often takes the blame, poor road construction adds another layer to the story. Can innovative solutions proposed by the authorities finally pave the way to safer roads?

With cities increasingly drowning in their own runoff, urban flooding has become a common sight from Chennai to Belagavi. As traditional drainage systems fall short, the innovative concept of "Sponge City" offers a fresh perspective, making urban spaces more absorbent to manage excess water. While the vision sounds promising, can concrete-dense cities really transform into water-soaking sponges?

Who is making it easy for us to move? Behind India’s mobility shift are unlikely partnerships. Governments, CSOs, residents, and even e-bike startups are all co-creating better transport. From Cycle Days to Handlebar Surveys, citizen engagement is no longer symbolic. It’s strategic, sustained, and reshaping the rules of how cities listen, plan, and move forward.

What happens when residents help design their own commute? From Bengaluru’s hotly debated bazaar pedestrianisation to nationwide ‘streets for people’ pilots, citizen voices test‑drive sustainable transport plans. Which lessons from these talks, trials, and temporary takeovers could steer India’s future mobility toward smarter, fairer city travel tomorrow?

What if the way we move in cities could change everything, from pollution to safety? India's non-motorised transport is on the rise, with walking and cycling reshaping life, promising steps toward a greener, healthier future. What challenges lie ahead, and how could active mobility cut through the urban chaos?

Karnataka’s draft Active Mobility Bill 2022 aims to create safer, more equitable streets for pedestrians and cyclists. But does it fully address all key challenges? From clarifying definitions to ensuring public participation, this feedback highlights vital gaps and opportunities. Will this bill set a new national standard for active mobility?

What exactly is Fare Free Public Transport, and can it really solve India’s urban mobility challenges? While some have embraced free rides, especially to ease travel for women, the pandemic’s impact on transit finances raises tough questions. Can such policies thrive amid budget crises and changing travel habits? This complex idea holds promise but also presents surprising trade-offs ahead.