Cities in India have seen rapid expansion in recent decades, but a glaring reality casts a shadow over this growth — around 40% of women report feeling unsafe on the streets, in their neighborhoods and on public transport. This raises doubts about the effectiveness of urban planning in ensuring real safety  for women.

Mumbai ranks as safest, Delhi among the worst

"Having lived in Delhi and now in Mumbai, I find Delhi streets are poorly lit and unsafe. I faced ogling, eve-teasing [public sexual harassment] and inappropriate touching on buses while I was a college student. Even in upscale areas, I was chased by drunk men. You are always on high alert, especially after 8:30 at night," said Bollywood costume designer, Manoshi Nath.

The National Annual Report and Index on Women's Safety (NARI) 2025 conducted by the National Commission for Women surveyed 12,770 women in 31 cities across the South Asian nation.

It ranked Mumbai, Bhubaneshwar and Gangtok among the safest cities for women, while Delhi, Kolkata and Jaipur were among the least safe.

About 40% of women in urban India reported feeling unsafe, while 7% said they had experienced harassment over the past year, with young women aged 18 to 24 found to be most vulnerable.

It found that women's general feeling of safety — already low during daytime — dropped even further at night, particularly when they used public transport.

Pratichi, a professional based in Delhi, said that "the constant fear of potential violence always lingers in the mind, normalized to the point that many don't see this as a serious issue."

Urban safety needs social insight beyond technical fixes

For some, women's safety in urban spaces is considered to be a matter of CCTV cameras or streetlights. However, the sociologist Sanjay Srivastava, a professor at London's School of Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS), argued that "technical solutions alone are not sufficient."

"True urban safety requires integrating social understanding with technical measures," he told DW.

Srivastava pointed out that Indian urban planners often focus on "beautification" — clearing footpaths, informal markets and street vendors, which are seen as "messy."

However, these spaces are crucial for women's safety, he said, describing the concept of "eyes on the streets" and explaining that the presence of residents and shopkeepers naturally deterred crime. This created more vibrant public spaces that were also safer through informal surveillance.

The sociologist also highlighted the lack of public spaces where women can socialize or take part in leisure activities. "Places like paan shops tend to be male dominated, offering little comfort for women," he noted, predicting that cities would remain unsafe and unwelcoming for women if there were no inclusive public spaces designed for them.

Patriarchal norms shape women's safety in India

Social researcher Manjima Bhattacharya said societal norms played a major role and women's safety was shaped by complex social, cultural, economic and familial factors.

She too explained that public spaces in India were highly gendered, citing Shilpa Phadke's book "Why Loiter?" to illustrate that women are expected to go out only for a purpose, such as going to school or running errands, while men can loiter freely. 

Srivastava also underscored that in India, a sharp distinction persists between public and private spaces — reflecting deep-rooted patriarchy.

Historically, public spaces had been dominated by men, while women were largely confined to the private sphere. This divide had resulted in unequal access to opportunities, reinforcing gender inequalities in urban life.

The SOAS professor said that the authorities often echoed archaic thinking, such as questioning why a woman was out late or alone. This reflected deeply ingrained victim-blaming mindsets that undermined women's right to access public spaces.

Designing safer cities

Sushmito Kamal Mukherjee, an urban planner, said addressing women's safety required coordinated planning, governance, policing and funding.

Using past survey data to map high-risk areas allows for targeted solutions, he noted. "Well-lit streets and open spaces with clear visibility prevent unnoticed mischief."

Mukherjee underlined that urban planning was dominated by architects who focus mainly on design, overlooking social and economic factors. "Effective urban planning needs an inter-disciplinary approach that integrates diverse areas of expertise," he told DW.

Social researcher Bhattacharya believes a participatory approach is crucial.

"Since the mid-2000s, women's rights groups in India have conducted safety audits — a powerful method where communities assess safety perceptions and experiences in public spaces," she said.

Beyond cameras and cops

But Srivastava said participatory urban planning often focused on mainly well-off women, excluding poor people such as domestic workers or street vendors from the informal sector who had different safety concerns.

Experts stress that true inclusivity requires involving grassroots NGOs and social researchers who understand these dynamics, ensuring diverse female voices shape planning and policymaking.

They also say that public behavior reflects values learned at home, underscoring the close link between public and private life.

"Addressing women's safety requires tackling both public and private spheres as one. Teaching safety and respect at school is essential [to achieve a] lasting impact," Srivastava stated. 

Bhattacharya said true safety goes beyond cameras and police. "It's a continuous effort of creating cities where women feel not just safe but free."

Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru