Public Life Study
Living Streets
'Living Streets' is a series initiated by Urban Design Square that redefines streets beyond their traditional role as spaces for mobility and social interaction, highlighting their importance as vital hubs for thriving livelihood and economic activity.
Why it is important to recognise streets as ‘places of work’
Our streets have always accommodated various users and activities. The ‘Living Streets’ concept highlights their role as vital sites of work.
The informal sector accounts for over half of India’s GDP, making it a crucial contributor to the country’s economy. However, most Indian streets are not designed to support this sector, making it difficult for players from the sector, such as street vendors, to sustain their livelihoods. As a result, many vendors are forced to occupy footpaths, which pushes pedestrians onto the carriageway, exposing the latter to chaotic traffic and creating unsafe conditions for everyone.
A comparative study of four streets in India — in Delhi, Nagpur, and Kolkata — conducted by Urban Design Square, a research organisation, reveals that while newly revamped streets have created dedicated spaces for walking and cycling, they do not offer enough room for the informal sector.
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