Addressing the crisis of shrinking wetlands: A critical exploration of the governance of East Kolkata Wetland

by Avnika Nagar
Faculty: Dr. Lalitha Kamath

The study tries to understand the challenge of shrinking wetlands and explores the contribution of the governance mechanism in meeting the crisis. It aims to analyze the legal framework around the EKW and the effectiveness of the regulatory bodies involved in the governance mechanism. One of the aspects of the research include understanding the role of the communities in the wetlands and the changes in its relation with the wetlands. Further, the role of the civil society has been focused upon to understand its significance as a watchdog.

Framing Affordable Housing: What State Needs to Do?

by Swajal Samrat
Faculty: Dr. Amita Bhide

Providing affordable housing to people is goal of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and Housing for All. Providing affordable housing to people has been categorized on the income basis and there is limit to what space would be provided to a household from certain category. The income criteria and the housing price have been kept universal for the whole country. This is where the problem occurs and this research tries to look into framing city specific affordable housing, for the city Patna, Bihar. Three different locations Old city, Slum and the Emerging area were studied to find out the issues depending on the typology of the locations. Suggestions have been provided based on the findings about what does state needs to do for this city and other city of the state to solve the issue of affordable housing and issue of housing in long run.

The Emperor’s New Clothes: Identifying Aurangabad as a Heritage City

by Sanika S Godse
Faculty: Dr. Lalitha Kamath

This is a study aimed at understanding the concept of heritage from a local perspective. It further examines the governance of heritage at an international, national, regional and local level. Contradictions within individual agencies and the interactions between them, along with their impact on heritage as well as the city have been studied. The relation between heritage and the people, politics and the identity of the city is a focus area. Contradictions arise in the multiple interpretations of heritage and their reflection in the governance mechanisms and politics. This study hopes to help understanding the nuances and re-interpreting the narratives around heritage for positive social outcomes in the future.

Studying Majestic (Bengaluru) as a Cinematic Neighbourhood

by Prajna R Beleyur
Faculty: Dr. Lalitha Kamath

The neighbourhood of Majestic (aka Gandhi Nagar) in Bengaluru has been central to the development of the theatre and film industry in the city and state of Karnataka. This study aims to understand how cinema and the theatres in this neighbourhood has been integral to the cultural, economic, social and political dimensions. Using the theatre and cinema as a lens this study elaborates on the contribution of the theatre and neighbourhood to the creation of urban public cultures and their specific manifestations. The study also discusses how the aesthetic of the theatre and neighbourhood has changed with the larger transformations occurring in the space of the city as well as the space of the Kannada movement; sons-of-the-soil movement of Karnataka. The study explores how the Kannada movement has captured and used the spaces of the theatres and neighbourhood in Majestic.

Study of Imphal City Public Bus Transport : Problems And Challenges

by Martin K Pheiga
Faculty: Dr. Ratoola Kundu

This research asks the reasons behind the initiation of the bus service in Imphal city by the State Government knowing the failure of bus services which were attempted in the past. The research also asks the reasons behind the failure of the bus service and whether the city needs a bus service. The findings of the research show that the reasons for the failure of the bus service are caused by various factors which cannot be addressed individually. It is the fault of the whole system and should be taken to the policy level.

A Case Study of Bus Rapid Transit System in Jaipur: An Assessment of the Infrastructural Augmentation

by Gitanjali Sharma
Faculty: Dr. Ratoola Kundu

The study seeks to understand and delineate the peculiarity that persist at the governance level of urban transportation infrastructure projects in the small city (tier 2) by taking on the case of Jaipur. The study focuses on the transportation infrastructure project of Bus rapid transit system of Jaipur, highlighting the layers of governance happenings set in them.