Make our cities breathe again

TWO judicial observations in the past week have placed urban India under an uncomfortable spotlight. In Delhi, the Chief Justice of India publicly said he felt unwell after a morning walk, an activity that should signal well being but has instead become a health risk in polluted air. In Mumbai, a division bench of the Bombay High Court led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad dismissed attempts to blame the recent volcanic eruption in Ethiopia for poor air quality. The judges noted that Mumbai’s air had been unsafe long before the ash plume was detected over parts of the subcontinent. When courts begin to discuss the hazards of walking and breathing in everyday conditions, the problem is no longer limited to environmental failure. It becomes a question of governance, constitutional responsibility and public dignity.

These remarks feel dramatic yet for many citizens they simply reflect daily experience. Urban India has slowly adjusted to the idea that smog, congestion and anxiety over physical movement are unavoidable parts of modern life. Health experts continue to warn that respiratory disease remains high, especially among young children and older adults. During periods of severe pollution in Delhi and other cities, doctors advise vulnerable groups to avoid morning walks and outdoor exercise, reinforcing the uncomfortable sense that ordinary life must be paused for medical safety. This cannot be interpreted as economic progress. It suggests that development has drifted away from well being.

India is urbanising rapidly but the planning model has often remained fragmented and reactive. Roads are primarily designed for motor vehicles rather than for pedestrians or cyclists. Development tends to spread outward without sufficient infrastructure or green buffers. Zoning norms still separate residential and commercial areas in ways that increase commuting distance and fuel use. As a result, people travel farther to work, public transport struggles to keep pace and emissions rise. The built environment has shaped behaviour but has not kept health at the centre of planning.

The shrinkage of natural spaces adds to the problem. Many Indian cities mention targets for green cover in their master plans but these targets are not linked to binding mechanisms. Urban forests, wetlands and tree lined streets appear in policy documents but often give way to commercial pressure. International guidelines such as the World Health Organisation recommendation of nine square metres of public green space per person are not met in several Indian metros. Some areas fall significantly below this mark. That matters because greenery plays multiple roles. It moderates heat, improves air quality, supports mental health and provides social spaces. When urban greenery is treated as ornamental rather than essential, the effects are measurable and long lasting.

Air pollution has become the most visible indicator of these structural weaknesses. Winter episodes draw public attention but the problem is present throughout the year. Sources are dispersed across sectors. Waste burning, construction dust, household emissions and industrial activity all contribute. External weather events such as dust storms or volcanic ash may dominate headlines temporarily but they merely reveal the fragility of existing systems. The Bombay High Court’s reminder that pollution predates any ash cloud should be understood in this context. Blaming a sudden natural event distracts from long term patterns of weak regulation, tired infrastructure and absence of green buffers.

If Indian cities are to become healthier and more liveable, planning will need to begin from health rather than convenience. Pedestrian friendly streets, cycling lanes and reliable public transport are not embellishments. They are foundations of sustainable movement. International models such as the fifteen minute city show how services and green spaces can be placed within walking distance of homes to reduce dependence on private vehicles. Urban clusters with local planning authority can distribute growth more evenly and prevent megacities from absorbing pressure without adequate services. This requires coordination between state and municipal bodies and a willingness to decentralise decision making.

Green infrastructure can help cities adapt to climate stress. Wetlands and lakes act as natural flood buffers and areas of cooling. Parks and community gardens encourage social connection and emotional resilience. Incentives for rooftop gardens, vertical greening and rainwater harvesting can improve environmental performance. However these features must not become privileges available only to gated communities. A fair city allows all residents equal access to open space and clean air. Public health depends on inclusion.

Governance shapes whether plans remain theories or become reality. Municipal bodies require budget autonomy, technical expertise and clarity over their jurisdiction. Planning laws should incorporate clear criteria for climate resilience, biodiversity and health. Air quality must be monitored throughout the year and data should be accessible. Transparent communication builds trust and encourages voluntary compliance. Citizens may be more inclined to participate when they understand both the risks they face and the steps being taken to address them.

Participation strengthens planning. Local consultations, neighbourhood mapping and participatory budgeting allow communities to contribute knowledge and raise concerns. When residents feel included, projects tend to be better maintained and more responsive to local needs. Urban improvement is not achieved solely through finance. It depends equally on trust between citizens and institutions.

India’s urban debate has often emphasised speed and scale. Economic potential remains important but it cannot come at the expense of liveability. A city should function as a shared habitat rather than a space to pass through quickly. The aim of planning must go beyond traffic management. It should enable citizens to lead active, healthy lives with access to breathing spaces. Development should protect life rather than diminish it.

The recent judicial comments serve as more than warnings. They point to the fact that health and environment are inseparable from constitutional rights. When senior judges refer to everyday activities becoming unhealthy, policymakers must recognise that the current model is unsustainable. Knowledge and tools already exist to build cities that support life. The missing elements are coordinated governance and political resolve.

Indian cities cannot continue to expand without purpose. They need to grow with intention and with respect for the natural systems that sustain them. Investment in infrastructure must be matched with investment in resilience and mental well being. Clean air and accessible green spaces are not luxuries. They are essential components of long term sustainability and national health.

A city that makes its citizens ill cannot be judged successful. It signals that planning has lost its direction. The observations in Delhi and Mumbai should not be ignored. They offer an opportunity to rethink priorities. Urban growth must be aligned with public health, environmental care and civic participation. A healthier future is possible, but it requires policy and planning that place well being at the heart of the urban agenda.

The author is a policy commentator focusing on urban development, sustainability and public governance.