Building cities of the future: Livability, sustainability, and governance

Sustainability is effective when strategies are consciously aimed to create and preserve cities while catering to the needs of the people

Cities are more than just a mere collection of buildings. They are dynamic networks of social systems, services, buildings and infrastructures. Cities are spaces with different forms and functions that offer diverse opportunities to people. Simultaneously, this leads to increased urbanisation, bringing forth a myriad of challenges that require attention. Building and designing cities becomes meaningful only when it enhances the quality of life for people, further enabling their interactions, usage and movement in ways that make cities liveable, sustainable and well-governed. Such was the late Economist Bibek Debroy’s vision for cities. His work has been influential in voicing India’s