India is urbanising rapidly, with cities on track to house 600 million people by 2036 (40% of the population), yet roughly four-in-five urban workers remain in the informal economy, and the country is racing to build the necessary infrastructure that is key for creating livable, climate-resilient, and inclusive cities that drive the economy forward.

Over the past year, I travelled to Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai to explore how Weaverbirds’ community intelligence could help fill critical data gaps and support more inclusive, responsive urban growth.