India, Aug. 15 -- As India celebrates 80 years of independence, the article asks who truly owns the city after dark.

It argues that night-time economy plans in places like Delhi and Hyderabad focus on commerce, while women's mobility remains constrained by fear, poor infrastructure and social norms.

Without an access-oriented approach, women are excluded from jobs, leisure and public life at night.

As India marks its 80th Independence Day, it is worth asking a simple urban question: who is free to use the city after dark?

Indian cities are being imagined beyond conventional working hours. Delhi's 2022-23 Budget proposed food trucks operating from 8 pm to 2 am to strengthen the city's night-time economy and create employment. More rece...