High-density cities are often framed as “efficient” and “sustainable.” But in India, crammed towers and disappearing open spaces show a different story: inequality, ecological strain, housing squeezed for the poor. questionofcities.org/why-are-we-pus…

Cities are densifying fast. High density can bring benefits: shorter commutes, higher productivity, and lower carbon footprints. But in India, its social & ecological costs are rarely examined. Read our editorial for our latest edition here. #urbanplanning questionofcities.org/why-are-we-pus…

High-density policies are often weaponised: they normalise sub-standard housing, reinforce social hierarchies, silence protests, and erode urban ecology. Who does it really serve? Read our editorial for our latest edition here. #urbanplanning questionofcities.org/why-are-we-pus…

In Mumbai’s M-East ward, two housing colonies report 1 in 10 households with TB. A third colony, in the same area & same income group, reports just 1%. The difference? How the buildings were designed. Read our interview with Namrata Kapoor here. #Mumbai questionofcities.org/infrastructure…

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s housing was meant to improve lives. Instead, cramped design rules created conditions where TB spreads faster. Urban Planner Namrata Kapoor explains why design matters as much as density. Read our interview with her. #SRA questionofcities.org/infrastructure…

Packed 3 metres apart. No light, no air. TB everywhere. This is what happens when profit trumps people in Mumbai’s SRA housing. Namrata Kapoor, who studied this crisis, tells us why we must rethink how we build. Read here: questionofcities.org/infrastructure… #Mumbaislums

“Slum main cholera hota hai, yahan TB hota hai.” That’s how one doctor described the grim trade-off of Mumbai’s SRA housing. Planner Namrata Kapoor breaks down how building design fuels disease. Read our interview with her here:  questionofcities.org/infrastructure… #Mumbai #Density

One kilometre, two worlds: Sangam Vihar’s narrow, crowded lanes vs Sainik Farms’ leafy, spacious streets. Same city, same “unauthorised” label - yet radically different lives. Ankita Dhar Karmakar explores why. #Urbaninequality #Delhi questionofcities.org/a-kilometre-in…

#SangamVihar faces broken roads, open drains, and erratic water. #SainikFarms residents stroll past birdsong and private amenities. #Density here reflects class and policy, not geography. Is this emblematic of #Delhi as a whole? We find out. Ankita Dhar Karmakar questionofcities.org/a-kilometre-in…

Lal Dora areas like #Saidulajab and #NebSarai are highly dense, with informal layouts and minimal planning oversight. This is characteristic of #Delhi’s urban fabric which produces stark contrast in living standards, writes Ankita Dhar Karmakar. #UrbanDensity questionofcities.org/a-kilometre-in…

Why are some spaces in #Delhi so highly dense? Is it poor planning or a push towards high-density planning instead? Ankita Dhar Karmakar visited two neighbourhoods in Delhi, a km apart, to find answers to these questions. #Urbanplanning questionofcities.org/a-kilometre-in…

India just lived through its warmest decade in history. In 2024 alone - we witnessed 322 days of extreme weather. That’s almost the entire year. How much more can our #ecology take? Our next edition is live. Stay tuned for more updates!

Terrifying flash floods in Himachal, UK & J&K reveal the cost of reckless land use in the Himalayas. As rivers, forests & wetlands vanish for “development,” resilience to extreme weather collapses. Read our latest edition, "Ecology, Trampled Upon". questionofcities.org