Vivechna

Cities do not flood simply because it rains too much. Increasingly, they flood because of how they have been planned, built, and expanded. Wetlands disappear beneath real estate, lakes are disconnected from their natural drainage systems, floodplains become construction sites, and permeable ground is steadily replaced by concrete. When intense rainfall arrives, water is left with nowhere to go.

"Drowning in Design" examines urban flooding not merely as a natural disaster or an engineering failure, but as a consequence of planning choices. Drawing on experiences from Indian cities, it traces how land-use change, infrastructure decisions, fragmented governance, and the erosion of natural drainage systems have amplified flood risk. The article argues for a fundamental shift: from designing cities to rapidly dispose of water toward planning urban landscapes that can absorb, retain, accommodate, and live with it.

Cities today face an expanding spectrum of security threats, from terrorism and armed conflict to cyberattacks and critical infrastructure disruptions. Yet urban resilience cannot be achieved through surveillance and fortification alone. "Defending Urban Life" examines how architecture, urban planning, and infrastructure design can reduce vulnerability while preserving the openness and accessibility that define successful cities. Drawing on international examples and contemporary security challenges, the article explores strategies such as resilient public spaces, protective urban design, critical infrastructure planning, and integrated emergency preparedness. It argues that the most secure cities are not those that isolate themselves behind barriers, but those that embed resilience into everyday urban systems, ensuring that safety, functionality, and public life reinforce rather than undermine one another.

Festivals, processions, religious gatherings, concerts, and public celebrations are central to urban life, bringing communities together while placing immense pressure on city infrastructure. When large crowds converge in spaces that were never designed to accommodate them, the consequences can quickly turn tragic. Celebrating Safely explores how urban planning can transform the way cities prepare for and manage mass gatherings. Moving beyond policing and emergency response, it argues that crowd safety begins with thoughtful design, resilient infrastructure, clear movement networks, and coordinated governance. Drawing on lessons from Indian cities and global best practices, the article demonstrates that safe celebrations are not achieved by restricting public life but by designing urban spaces that can welcome large gatherings while protecting the people who bring them to life.

As drones, air taxis, and other low-altitude aircraft become part of everyday urban life, cities are entering a new era of mobility that extends beyond streets and railways into the skies. While these technologies promise faster transport, emergency response, and new economic opportunities, they also introduce complex challenges related to safety, regulation, infrastructure, and urban governance. "Urban Skies at Risk" explores how cities can prepare for this transition through proactive planning and design. From aerial corridors and vertiports to risk management and integrated airspace governance, the article argues that the future of urban aviation depends not only on technological innovation but also on building cities that are equipped to manage the opportunities and risks of a rapidly evolving aerial landscape.