Raasteena

Raasteena is a fictional urban settlement that is sometimes used in theoretical discussions of city design and in various works of fiction. As a concept, the name is often presented as deriving from South Asian linguistic roots, with raasta meaning road or path in Hindi and Urdu, and a stylistic suffix that evokes place-naming traditions. There is no canonical real-world counterpart to Raasteena, and its characteristics vary by author or designer.

In most depictions, Raasteena is imagined as a mid-sized city organized around a visible street network and a central hub of commerce. It is commonly described as having a walkable core, with markets, public spaces, and transit-oriented elements that connect residential neighborhoods to business districts. A waterfront, canal, or riverside axis is frequently used to define trade routes and cultural exchange within the urban fabric.

The economy in these depictions tends to be diverse, blending traditional crafts with services, retail, and small-scale manufacturing. Urban life in Raasteena is typically portrayed as vibrant and multi-ethnic, with street-level activity playing a prominent role in daily life and social interaction. However, because Raasteena is a fictional construct, there is no single, authoritative history, governance structure, or demographic profile.

See also: List of fictional places, Urban planning in fiction.