Consultant, Urban Lab, Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …
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 …
Cycling v cyclist
Why do city authorities appease only the cyclist who pedals for recreation rather than support cycling as a means of transport?
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?
Unsteady buildings
Frequency of building collapses a big concern. Authorities are trying to fix the mess by introducing newer complications
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
Pilgrims' distress
Better infrastructure planning and upgrade needed for mega events like Kumbh to avert stampedes
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
Digital imbalance!
The NDA government needs to balance its vision vis-a-vis digitising India
Will Delhi air poison Obama on Republic Day?
Please wear a dust mask at the parade Mr President, for our sake at least
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
Concrete without sand?
The world is sitting over a landfill of possible substitutes for sand
A hole in the ground
Urinals and toilets built for pilgrims have little to do with sanitation
Pitcher of disquiet
It’s not just glory, Kumbh also deluges holy city with filth