Panellists discussed how Indian cities can provide affordable housing at the seventh edition of IE Thinc: CITIES series, presented by The Indian Express with Omidyar Network India. The session was moderated by Udit Misra, Associate Editor Ashok B Lall: Affordable housing refers to legal housing priced in proportion to income. However, rising land prices dominate costs, leaving middle and lower-income groups struggling. Middle-income residents move to suburbs with long commutes, while low-income groups accept crowded, poorly serviced urban spaces or unauthorised colonies. This creates divided cities, a global phenomenon in emerging economies. In India, 30 per cent of urban residents live in slums, highlighting the demand for affordable, environmentally secure housing. Delhi’s housing shows stark imbalances: low-density, high-income areas like Lutyens Delhi occupy disproportionate land compared to crowded unauthorised colonies and resettlement areas, where 73 per cent of the population resides on just 56 per cent of the land. These areas lack basic amenities like schools, greenery, and open spaces. Government initiatives like PMAY aim to address housing issues by offering financial aid for self-built …