Shaping cities for the future

Cities are more than just a mere collection of buildings.

- AMIT KAPOOR

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 pursuit of urban transformation. His ambitions were not only focused on addressing the current challenges of cities but also on laying the foundation for future growth. His idea of "sustainability" should remain at the core of urban planning. Cities are often seen as hubs of economic growth. However, this approach leads to the commodification of land and natural resources, C ities are more than just a mere collection of CONURBA ations and making decisions. Debroy actively advocated leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Io T, and data to create cities driven by data-powered systems.