‘Cut-throat competition’ fuels misery in India’s crowded cities

Every day tens of millions of Indians sit idle on gridlocked highways and hang from the sides of packed trains in what is becoming the world’s most populous nation – Copyright AFP/File Arun SANKAR

Jalees ANDRABI

Every morning and evening — and for several hours in between — tens of millions of Indians sit idle on gridlocked highways and hang from the sides of packed passenger trains in what is becoming the world’s most populous nation.

For those living cheek-by-jowl in the country’s sprawling megacities, the thought of cohabiting with even more people is no cause for cheer.

The United Nations said Monday that India — already boasting 1.43 billion people — would this week overtake Chi