Digital imbalance!

The NDA government needs to balance its vision vis-a-vis digitising India

Slums and the story of India's housing crisis

The rate at which informal housing is being destroyed probably far exceeds the rate at which formal housing is being constructed

Jostling for jhuggi land

The Shakur Basti eviction drive calls for a thorough review of the railways’ mandate, politics of urban land and housing of urban poor

Murky science of comfort part 1: Debunking science behind 'comfortable' temperature

What is a comfortable temperature? The question seems benign on the surface but the answer has far reaching ecological consequences

Murky science of comfort part 2: Why we feel suffocated in a building even when it is pleasant outside

Humans are built to get used to local environments but unfortunately industry interests have come to define what ‘comfortable’ room …

Murky science of comfort part 3: Industry defined standards make us feel uncomfortable without ACs

The Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning industry has made sure that we get used to heating and cooling appliances by setting arbitrary …

Murky science of comfort part 5: Here’s how being mindful is good for the environment

We cannot wish away air-conditioning in today’s world, but we can be reasonable in choosing where, when and how to resort to the energy guzzlers

Pitcher of disquiet

It’s not just glory, Kumbh also deluges holy city with filth

A hole in the ground

Urinals and toilets built for pilgrims have little to do with sanitation

Hindu philosophy and environmental pollution

Pilgrims believe that Ganga carrying away all the filth to somewhere else justifies the act of pouring dirt into it

A maha mess

From heavy traffic to insufficient water supply and extreme pollution, the Kumbh mela suffers from serious mismanagement

Pilgrims' distress

Better infrastructure planning and upgrade needed for mega events like Kumbh to avert stampedes

Kumbh karma

It took a trip to Harvard for the Uttar Pradesh top brass to realize that back home their house was not in order

Unsteady buildings

Frequency of building collapses a big concern. Authorities are trying to fix the mess by introducing newer complications

Concrete without sand?

The world is sitting over a landfill of possible substitutes for sand

Transition to pedal

The world is discussing going back to cycling-to-work days. How can we contribute to better environment in 100 km cities?

I cycle and I don’t need your sympathy

I take offence to those snotty looks from you on the road as if my vehicle is not legit

Cycling v cyclist

Why do city authorities appease only the cyclist who pedals for recreation rather than support cycling as a means of transport?

Why AAP’s subsidies mean increased cost of living for me

Rich house owners, the urban minority, will benefit from AAP's power and water subsidies and they will certainly not pass on this benefit to the …

Your air-conditioner can't keep you safe from Delhi’s noxious air

Indoor air quality is directly dependent on quality of outdoor air. It's time the aam aadmi came out on the streets to clean up not just …

What are smart cities?

Smart city may simply mean a place where a smart phone can run all the errands for you. But the Indian urban challenge is not as digital and way …

Will Delhi air poison Obama on Republic Day?

Please wear a dust mask at the parade Mr President, for our sake at least

Structural safety: preparing for the big one

Implementing seismic codes while constructing buildings will help save several lives in our earthquake-prone cities

Urban development agenda 2015

So far, smart cities have been all talks and no action. Will 2015 be any different? A quick account of what Narendra Modi needs to fix to make …

Don’t get dazzled by these stars

Bureau of Energy Efficiency has just updated star rating standards for refrigerators and ACs, but the Indian rating system, especially for ACs, …