The “unification” challenges for Mumbai’s present and future

The unification of the seven islands of Bombay led by the British set the foundation for the development of the modern global city that Mumbai is today. However, as we have noted, this has come at the cost of a highly Western oriented vision of the city and its urban heritage, which has marginalized a series of less fortunate groups. Today, Mumbai faces a series of challenges to spread a similar process of unification beyond the city’s geography. A more comprehensive process of unification across the city’s many fronts could lead Mumbai to hold a more sustainable economic development as well as a sounder place in the global economy.

 

a) Unification of the modern city with its original communities

As mentioned earlier, some of the oldest Bombay communities were marginalized as a product of British colonization. Such communities were particularly damaged after the adoption of uniform land legislation based on private property, and the mismanagement of the several immigration waves to Mumbai, leaving them without their land and under very poor living conditions.

36 koliwadas and 128 gaothans, communities of Mumbai’s original inhabitants, still remain, though mostly hidden in the middle of the bustle of the city. Last year, the Mumbai Development Plan had designated the city’s remaining koliwadas and gaothans as slums, an additional threat to these communities that already face much pressure from property builders and developers.

Similarly, earlier this year the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Heritage Conservation Committee’s list of Mumbai’s protected architectural sites showed a reduction in the level of protection from alterations and destructions given some of the oldest landmarks present in the city. The affected landmarks included the Bhikha Behram Well, which dates back to AD 1725 and is a sacred site for Zoroastrians.

Happenings like these suggest that Mumbai authorities still have work to do with regards to the protection of their most historical landmarks and communities, and their full integration into the city’s “urban” heritage. A more solid integration of these elements as true parts of the city (as opposed to only consider them as “historical” or “cultural” heritage) could probably foster a more cohesive Mumbai community, and one that is also more aware of its origins.

 

b) Unification of the rich and the poor

Despite Mumbai’s economic success in the national and international arenas, its gains have not been evenly distributed among its population. From the beginning of the 19th century, the rapid process of economic development could not keep up with the exponential demographic growth that ensued in parallel. The extreme social inequality present in Mumbai is perhaps most easily noticeable in its urban landscape. The modern affluence represented by the Central Business District at Nariman Point, the office complexes of Bandra-Kurla, and the upmarket housing developments of Navi Mumbai (New Mumbai), contrast sharply with the several slums and squatter settlements, the overloaded public latrines, and uncollected garbage that abound in the city, undeniable symbols of decay and disadvantage.

If Mumbai intends to continue growing as a global city, it is imperative to address this gross inequality issue. Economic prosperity for only a fraction of the population is not sustainable and can lead to further other sociopolitical and infrastructure issues mentioned here.

 

c) Unification of the different areas of the city (transportation) and other infrastructure challenges 

One of the most symbolic urban elements stemming from the unification of Bombay is that of public transportation, which since its inception has connected the different corners of the city as commuters travel to get to work or other daily activities. As of 2006, suburban rail services carried 6 million passengers per day and buses over 4.5 million. 

Despite its major importance in the daily life of Mumbai, the city’s public transportation presents some serious deficiencies. The north–south elongation of the city and congested causeway links to the suburbs create major bottlenecks, and its saturation levels are such that at peak hours as many as 4,700 people travel in a nine-carriage train, when its allowed capacity reaches 1,700. This leaves most of the city’s residents with four-hour daily commutes in overcrowded conditions. 

Along with the overcrowding of trains and buses, serious challenges for the public transportation include road congestion—worsened by the narrow streets of the city and the presence of manifold street vendors and pavement dwellers— and the presence of squatter settlements along the rail land. Thus, despite the city’s landmass unification, there is still much to do in terms of making these connections more efficient and even just safe for the Mumbai residents. 

Another major urban issue is the shortage of water and deficient sewerage system. Around one third of households do not have access to safe drinking water. These conditions further the population’s chances of contracting and rapidly spreading disease, a real threat for a city with such a large population as Mumbai.