Re-imagining, re-conceptualising and re-shaping cities in post-pandemic India: interpreting the urban space

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has busted the myth of the invincibility of globalisation. Borders are suddenly no longer that significant. Open spaces are becoming pertinent in urban reconstruction. At present, post-pandemic recovery is an important challenge globally. The need to develop modern urbanisation with planned cities that accommodate all sections of people is being universally acknowledged by experts. These cities need to be resilient, inclusive and sustainable. For cities to be sustainable, they need to utilise public spaces judiciously. The paper focuses on what makes cities sustainable in a post-pandemic world order and how India is navigating the challenges of urban reconstruction. The paper brings up the binary between public and private space and points out that wellness of individuals is very significant pointer in newly planned cities. The paper concludes that big cities are here to stay whatever be the predictions of naysayers.