India's residential real estate market is entering a consolidation phase, not a downturn, with demand supported by urbanization and lower borrowing costs. Premium housing leads growth, while affordable segments face pressure. Unsold inventory is rising as launches outpace sales.
A flight into Indian cities like Mumbai, Delhi, or Kolkata often reveals sprawling informal settlements, hazy skies, or aging infrastructure, contrasting sharply with the orderly urban layouts, green surroundings, and cleaner skylines of cities like Singapore, Bangkok, or Colombo. This difference stems from a complex interplay of history, demographics, governance, economics, and the sheer scale of India's rapid urbanization and population density, posing unique challenges in delivering basic urban services and managing growth.
Dengue is increasingly becoming a year-round threat in India, with cases rising outside the traditional monsoon season. Experts attribute this shift to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and urbanization, which allow dengue-carrying mosquitoes to survive longer and spread further. Air pollution is also linked to higher mortality rates.
The World Urban Forum in Baku highlighted housing as a systemic global challenge, exacerbated by affordability, climate vulnerability, and displacement. UN officials stressed the need for integrated solutions and better financial mechanisms, warning of increased climate-driven displacement and the breakdown of social contracts.
This opinion piece argues that female city leaders are driving unprecedented urban transformation toward more inclusive, sustainable cities. Drawing on examples from Barcelona's Ada Colau, Montréal's Valérie Plante and Paris's Anne Hidalgo, the authors contend that women leaders' lived experiences result in policies benefiting vulnerable groups. The article cites statistics showing only 25 of the world's 300 largest cities have female mayors, and calls for more gender balance in municipal leadership to create public spaces that work for everyone.
