Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai have the highest shares of population living in high-risk wards according to an analysis of satellite data India’s biggest cities have been effectively shut down for over 50 days, and for good reason.
The top 15 most populated cities in the country have about 60% of confirmed coronavirus cases. But locking these so-called “red zones" indefinitely poses severe risks to the health of the Indian economy and threatens the livelihoods of millions.
As in other parts of the world, the biggest cities are also the biggest drivers of the economy, and their influence on the economy goes far beyond their stated share in the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).