Cities around the world have faced the brunt of the COVID19 pandemic due to widespread international connectivity, the movement of people and goods, and commercial and recreational activities in constricted spaces. What has caused so many major cities to crumble under the onslaught of the virus? What are the fissures that COVID-19 has exposed in city-planning today? How can urban planning systems equip themselves better for future pandemic management? To answer these questions, Rethinking Cities, edited by Aditi Ratho and Preeti Lourdes John, explores the relationship between the pandemic and urban health infrastructure, climate resilience, informal settlements and work, social infrastructure, and commercial investments. And it provides potential directions for urban planning to mitigate the risks from future health crises.

Contents

Healthy Cities

Healthcare Delivery Must Embrace the Digital Space - Sheetal Ranganathan

India's Urban Healthcare System Must Adapt to the New Normal - Oommen C. Kurian
Green Cities

Reimagining Urban Spaces for Community Connections and Climate Resiliency - Elizabeth Hessek and Ashali Bhandari

Building Blocks of a Post-COVID-19 Green City - Tanushree Chandra

Transportation Must Transform in the Post-Pandemic Era - Amruta Ponkshe

Inclusive Cities

Women and the City: Embracing Gender-Sensitive Policies - Saloni Atal

Protecting the Future of Urban Workers in a Post-Pandemic Automated World - Aditi Ratho

Providing Urban Poor with Livelihoods is Crucial Post COVID-19 - Ramanath Jha

Rising Cities

Reimagining the Workspaces of the Future - Sangeet Jain

The Rise of Cities: Economic Drivers in the Post-Pandemic World - Soumya Bhowmick

From Slums to Skyscrapers: Redesigning Urban Habitat Policies - Renita D'souza

Inclusivity in Knowledge Cities in the Post-COVID-19 World - Manvita Baradi and Kaninik Baradi