By Somali K Chakrabarti
Standing by the open window railing on my room, as I sip my morning tea looking at the coconuts swinging from the tree at a stone’s throw, I struggle each day to reconcile with how the view has changed over the last two years.
The open space on both sides, where there used to be a nursery and a school playground is now covered up with high-rise flats that are in the last stage of construction. In place of the variety of plants and flowers in the nursery, stands a burly concrete mixer humming throughout the day. Scaffoldings along the walls of buildings and reinforcement rods jutting out of the columns from the roof of an under-construction parking lot make an unseemly sight.
I feel let down and so do the other residents of the building. But do we complain? Not much!
Financial wisdom tells us that with the land prices having appreciated more than 5 times, we should not be complaining. Likewise, constructing high rise buildings on a prime property makes more commercial sense for builder; so what if the land was initially earmarked for a school playground and a park.
Besides enjoying the facility of a plush club house with a well equipped gym and swimming pool, residents also get the privilege of a view into the interiors of other flats from their houses.
As for environmental impact or disaster planning, nobody really seems to care. With a single main exit, and a small by lane through which a car can barely pass, the colony which houses more than 6000 residents is like a death trap in case of any emergency situation.
This is the story of a relatively upwardly mobile colony near the scenic Powai Lake in Powai. But, this is not a one off story!
The story repeats itself all over Mumbai. The island city that is naturally endowed with a beautiful topography and a hilly backdrop within vicinity suffers hugely from improper or missing Town Planning.
Open spaces in Mumbai are disappearing
With the real estate burgeoning, builders are razing down the hills, covering up open spaces and fast depleting the city of its natural beauty. The naturally green Mumbai is turning grey. Odd shaped glass and steel high rises, aimed at giving the city a Star Trek inspired futuristic look stand out like eye sores protruding from Mumbai’s skyline.
With a population density that is amongst the highest in the world, Mumbai – home to more than 20 million people seems bursting at the seam. It massively reels under the pressure of rampant construction, and yet lacks sufficient infrastructure. The lack of open spaces in most of the suburbs gives a claustrophobic feel.
As compared with London where the percentage of public green space is around 40%, Mumbai has an green space of only 2.5%, lower than even Tokyo and Shanghai. [i] On an average it amounts to around 2 square metres of open space per person or less. [ii]
Within every 10 kms, you’ll find a shopping mall, maybe two, but the roads are devoid of proper usable footpaths. Getting some open unobstructed space to walk is a rarity and a luxury in most parts of the city. Land marked for parks is being used to construct buildings and every inch of open space is being nibbled upon. Mega construction projects are started without due consideration to develop the infrastructure required to support the usage of high rise buildings and shopping complexes.
This is in sharp contrast to cities around the world, where developers have to negotiate with the local government and convince them on how they would help augment the surrounding infrastructure before sanctions are given for mega construction projects.
Builders of fancy apartments promise you the sky with a magnificent view, but what they conveniently forget to tell you is that the moment you step out you’ll either be stuck or you’ll have an experience equivalent to travelling through the craters of the moon within the next 15 minutes. The imported granite and marble lined lobbies are in sharp contrast to the potholed roads that are repaired before every monsoon, only to be damaged by the very first showers.
Mumbai vs Shanghai is still a distant dream
Five years back, the then Chief Minister of Mumbai had sold a dream of turning Mumbai into Shanghai. But till date, with the infrastructure development failing to keep pace with the increase in population and traffic, the city is nowhere close to Shanghai, either in terms of planned infrastructure or cleanliness or in terms of civic amenities.
The congestion on roads has been eased to some extent, with some infrastructure projects such as Monorail track between Chembur and Wadala, 1st phase of Metro’s, Sahar Elevated Road connecting Western Express Highway to International Airport, T2 terminal of the Mumbai International Airport, Santacruz-Chembur Link Road project, between the Eastern and Western Express Highway and Milan Rail over Bridge from Santacruz to Western Express Highway and 17 km stretch of Eastern Freeway becoming functional in 2014.
However, the biggest challenge still lies in the fact that any infrastructure project once started take years to complete. The construction of the Monorail track had begun in 2009 and it took 5 years to become operational in 2014. Likewise the 1st phase of Metro began in 2008, and it was 6 years before it became operational between Versova and Ghatkopar.
The lack of open green spaces – playgrounds and parks and rampant cutting of forests call for attention, as do the ill designed and ill maintained footpaths. A BMC Report in 2013 proposing diverse use of open spaces raised apprehensions if the intention was to allow for privatization of open spaces.[iii]
Better Zoning laws to regulate building size, population density and the way land is used, are needed to ensure that whatever few remaining green spaces are left are not encroached upon. A more systematic approach to urban landscaping and environment improvement facilities like well maintained public parks, gardens and landscapes would provide a long-term return to the society on a sustainable basis.
Shanghai may be a far cry, but a naturally beautiful city, which is also India’s commercial and industrial hub, surely deserves to planned and developed better.
.
If you like this post, please consider following the blog.
Please like, share and/or leave feedback in comments below!
References :
[i] World Culture Report [http://www.worldcitiescultureforum.com/cities/mumbai]
[ii] [iii] Hindustan Times article [http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mumbai/mumbai-bmc-may-lower-amount-of-open-space-per-person/article1-1152962.aspx]
Every city in India is changing drastically. All these changes are cosmetic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad but true.
LikeLike
Very well written.
What is more scary is not the change itself – but the rate of change. All of us who grew up in Mumbai would be at a loss to recognize this city today compared to what we saw if it during our childhood. The scary part is – just imagine if this same rate of change were to continue in the future! The coming generations would then have no option but to reclaim the sea and build into it. Much like Dubai.
The only solution is to move the population away from this megapolis and develop other new cities. Whether we will see that happen in our lifetime is another question altogether.
LikeLike
Thanks for the comment.. Yes it will indeed be scary if plans for de-congestion, developing infrastructure and preserving open spaces are not implemented well in time.
LikeLike
Why is Mumbai such a bad city to live in?
Lack of open spaces, rampant construction on one hand and slow pace of infrastructure development on the other, over crowded trains and buses, poor condition of roads all put together are bringing down the quality of life in Mumbai. I reflect on some o…
LikeLike
well written Somali. Sad but true. When I visit my parents in Bhandup the first feeling i get is of claustrophobia because none of the 3000 flats have even a balcony. so much for real estate that we sacrifice even the luxury of the little open space one needs in everyday life.
LikeLike
Thanks Aarthi. Like your observation — ‘so much so for the real estate that a little open space is a luxury’.
LikeLike
[…] September 2014: Mumbai – A Green City Turning Grey By Somali K Chakrabarti Standing by the open window railing on my room, as I sip my morning tea […]
LikeLike
[…] September 2014: Mumbai – A Green City Turning Grey By Somali K Chakrabarti Standing by the open window railing on my room, as I sip my morning tea […]
LikeLike
I’m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I found this during my hunt for something concerning this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words Jestine. Somehow the comment went to the spam and saw it now while checking the report, So even if it is late, I would rather say thanks now than not. Have a nice day.
LikeLike
I’m impressed, I have to admit. Seldom do I come across a blog that’s both educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is an issue that not enough people are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I found this during my hunt for something concerning this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sad reality for many cities.
May need to save our cities that have become concrete jungles…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yup Anita, our politicians also need to realize that.
LikeLike
We need to
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s why we are promoting use of Solar energy .. To bring the Green back in city !!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to see Solar energy gaining impetus. Best wishes for your endeavour.
LikeLike
Recently, I was reading on someone’s blog regarding the cause o water logging in Mumbai. The writer explained that it was due to the filling of low lands to build skyscrapers. Decreasing greenery is really disheartening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is Ravish. Filling lowlands is a common phenomenon but besides that we find all open spaces and playgrounds disappearing and buildings mushrooming.
LikeLike
Harsh reality in India. There is nothing wrong with development, but we must get environmental reports before starting to construct. My hometown Ambala is flooded every year as they have covered the pond and marsh land that absorbed rain water. Construction has created more mess.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A sad state of affairs indeed. Some time back there was a proposal from one of the political bigwigs to convert the Mahalaxmi race course which is used by the people around for their morning walks/jogs, to be converted into a mall!! With such thinking by our city fathers, what can we expect except doom.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Construction over each and every bit of open space has it’s own peril. Thanks for adding on Deepakji.
LikeLike
Exactly Saru. Development with proper environmental planning is needed but here it seems the environmental bit goes for a toss.
LikeLike
The severe lack of town planning is evident in all rapid pace developments happening across India. Big high rise buildings made at the cost of open spaces and children’s park has become rather a norm. You rightly pointed out not anyone is complaining much for being compensated in some way like the rise in property prices. But this callousness may eventually result in poor civic facilities to the extent of subhuman living conditions. The chaos that was evident during recent floods in Mumbai is a corollary to such mindless development.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are so right Bushra. The callousness result in poor civic facilities and the cities may eventually become prone to disasters..and disaster planning..what’s that?
LikeLike
It is not just Mumbai, most of our cities are turning grey. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
True Shruti, a nationwide phenomenon it is.
LikeLike
The story of Bangalore is no different. In place of flower gardens buildings have come up, where do the honey bees go?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Indrani, our builders are too busy caring for themselves and you ask them to care for the honey bees !
LikeLike
It’s the same in Bangalore. They used to call it the garden city; been a long time since I saw a garden though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s sad Sreesha when the characteristics of the city are altered for the worse .
LikeLike
The plight of the city depicted so vivaciously with the post! Great read Somali :’)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Maitreni.
LikeLike
I understand what you say. Whenever I visit Mumbai I am amazed by many things but it does feels claustrophobic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Mridula. You are right. It does feel claustrophobic.
LikeLike
I so agree, it breaks my heart every time I go to Mumbai. it seems they do not want to spare an square meter of space without construction. At least in Bangalore they maintain some green cover. Plus I think it is a problem of migration too…the TV industry, the finance market, the Film industry…all want a home in Mumbai. Its also a question of mindset…mindset that its our city, the cleanliness part of it….I know I am just going on with this…but it truly pains my heart to see the state.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shweta I ramble a lot about the lack of open space,and that spills over to the blog as well. The major difference I feel between Indian cities and the cities in the western world is the the planning and design and the provision for maintaining open space. Walking is a pleasure in a city like London, whereas it is a pain in Mumbai.
LikeLike
The problem with almost every city in India is that they are getting a cosmetic transformation without being supervised by veteran doctors (read engineers and architects). In the name of modernization, we are destroying the greeneries making the cities nothing but cages of steel and concrete…
Very well written, Somali, and quite informative too… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Maniparna, there used to be a subject called Town Planning for architecture students. May be they still have it, Wonder if those who study the subject ever get to put any of the knowledge into practice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
From green space to concrete jungle.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s how it is. Thanks for stopping by Rajesh.
LikeLike
its sad.. how the city has changed… its gone to the dogs… and I feel terrible about it!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes everybody feels terrible yet there is not much we can do about it Archana.
LikeLike
A great account, Somali 🙂 Very nice 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Amit ji 🙂
LikeLike
This is the story of probably every metro city (even tier2 cities as well which are experiencing massive urban infrastructure). Road connectivity issues, Green Space, No planning for earthquake resistance are amongst some of the critical issue not many developer follow practically (though their manual highlight them prominently.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True Vishal. You have rightly pointed out the issues of road connectivity, bad condition of roads, lack of green space, earthquake resistance. Now lately with the rise in no of glass buildings fire resistance too could be an issue.
LikeLike
Very well written article, Somali! I thought Mumbai had already exhausted all the areas for construction, sad to hear about the terrible state of affairs…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jatin. Whatever little is left has to be filled in.. no?
LikeLike
I have been feeling sad about the condition of Mumbai and various incidents related to climate and pollution here.
In the days to come I am going to speak more about this and I will take part in some events for change if things permit. Thanks for sharing your words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a very nice thought. Any amount of participation or contribution is a step towards change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I have now realized that ‘Execution is the key’.
LikeLiked by 1 person