India, March 15 -- Each year, as International Women's Day passes, conversations about women's safety return to the public sphere through campaigns, panel discussions and renewed calls for awareness. Yet once the commemorations fade, the everyday question of how safe women feel in public spaces, particularly after dark, remains a quieter but persistent concern.

In the tricity region of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali, often viewed as orderly and relatively safe urban environments, this question carries particular resonance. These cities are known for their planning legacy and structured urban form. But safety in cities is rarely defined only by planning documents or crime statistics. It is shaped equally by perception, activity and the ...