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.

As India’s cities struggle with rising pollution, water scarcity, and rapid urban growth, the governance of urban forests is emerging as a critical issue. Larger cities are taking steps to manage their green spaces, but smaller cities, often with limited resources, face significant hurdles. Can decentralised urban forestry be the solution, or will fragmented efforts continue to undermine effective management of green spaces in urban areas?

Public transport in smaller Indian cities was already struggling before COVID-19. But what did the pandemic do to these travel patterns? It sparked shifts in how people move, revealing new trends in private vehicle use and non-motorised transport. These changes carry both opportunities and challenges, especially outside major metros.

Indian cities are making waves in global rankings, but the results can be puzzling. While Hyderabad and Bengaluru top growth charts, they lag in innovation and quality of life. With numerous indices measuring everything from economic potential to mobility, Indian cities often find themselves on different ends of the spectrum. But do these rankings really reflect urban realities, or is there more to the story?

Despite being integral to India’s urban landscape, smaller cities often get overlooked in both academic and online knowledge resources. While big cities dominate research and Wikipedia pages, small cities remain under-represented. To bridge this gap, Nagrika launched “Nagarpedia” — a community-driven initiative encouraging citizens to enrich Wikipedia’s city pages with credible, local insights. After all, who better to contribute than those who truly know their own city?

Cooperative banks in India, initially formed to cater to underserved communities, are now facing pressures to commercialise and compete with larger, profit-driven banks. While their growth reflects trust and success, the shift towards commercial models threatens the social welfare principles that founded them. The question remains: Should cooperatives evolve into commercial entities, or should they stay rooted in community service, preserving their founding ideals? The future

2018 was a year where cities in India took center stage: politically, economically, and socially. From rising citizen participation to international partnerships, urban life saw transformative change. With rankings, policies, and citizen-led initiatives making waves, cities found their voices louder than ever. As cities continue to evolve, how ready are they to meet the challenges of tomorrow in and inclusive and sustainable manner?