Mumbai needs to decongest.
The city is the solution, says Poonam Mahajan (IE,Jan.13).Unless Mumbai is decongested, it will become unlivable.She mentions two crucial issues - affordable houses and lack of open spaces, and does not offer any suggestions in this regard.Increasing the floor space index is not the solution to these two problems. Mumbai has expand to the mainland. MMRDA should become greater Mumbai. For this, the Sewri-Nhava Sheva bridge is a 'must' which has been postponed for about two decades by the politicians and the builders. This has increased the price of housing to unprecedented levels. The coastal road will not solve the problem of transport but it will create more congestion in the fort area.A coastal metro or railway may be a better idea.With the coastal road there would be more vehicles in the fort. With the decision to have the statue of Shavaji Maharaj in the sea outside the Marine Drive, the BJP government is repeating the mistake of Congress- NCP government. The best place for the statue would be the Elephanta Island which could be developed as the showpiece of Mumbai. The best tribute to Shivaji is to renovate his forts and make them tourist centres. However, our politicians can only think of big projects, not cost-effective useful projects.
Jan 14,2014.
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