sources of pollution. Moreover, they discount a socio-political perspective in considering workers’ issues or effects on the neighbourhood. As these organizations proceed to incentivise smartness and efficiency, construction sites will become more monitored and secure. Unless this shift is accompanied by parallel reforms for people and activities surviving informally, it may adversely affect their lives. PERCEPTION The construction phase of a building, although loud and disruptive, is one of promise. Mass media tends to glorify technological advancements and the final product; while effectively distracting the public from the process itself. Buildings covered in their to-scale rendered versions are a common site in the Global North, and a developing trend in Delhi. The viewing deck in IREO City and the big blue tin sheets covering Kidwai Nagar redevelopment serve a similar function. These measures distance the observer from the happenings inside a construction site, thus protecting her/ his indifference. Contrastingly, walking across the footbridge spanning the South Ex. metro construction allows
a clear view of the ongoing activity. Minimal security permits one to easily walk into the Kidwai Nagar site. Although safety norms are violated, these situations allow construction sites to remain open to public scrutiny. Recent protests related to Kidwai Nagar redevelopment were in part fuelled by the site’s proximity to residential areas, obvious evidence of mismanagement, and pollution in the locality. This brought into focus the project’s environmental implications and social repercussions, despite restricted access to the plans and lack of transparency. The questions addressed in this paper are very much a result of the experiences allowed by these poorly disguised sites. The loose and permeable nature of the site’s edges makes them more susceptible to democratic discourse and processes. In the pretence of imitating global efficiency standards, the informalities and precariousness of the site environment are hidden from the public. CONCERNS To understand where site environment falls in the priorities of the stakeholders, they are broadly classified into two categories: those who wield most power with respect their influence on site 42 43