And for a Friday in Mumbai, a week gone by, with many highlights and one big lowlight…..
Our National physical infrastructure is improving leaps and bounds over the last two decades. Two outstanding examples; the new Terminal-2 of Bengaluru AirPort and the progress of the Mumbai coastal road. The new Terminal is probably one of the best in the world with capacity to handle 25 Mn passengers. Led and managed by my friend, the dynamic MD – Hari Marar, the airport landscaping is exceptionally beautiful. Its greenery all around. 150 palm species, 96 lotuses and 100 varieties of Lillies. Huge bells hang from ceilings with 1.5 lakh live plants and 5 lakh plants making the green wall, truly living up to it being a “airport terminal in a garden”. All of us can be proud of this landmark airport. In Mumbai, the coastal road project is an engineering marvel underway. A 3.4 km long tunnel connecting Priyadarshani Park in Napean Sea road to Girgaum Chowpathy under the Hanging Gardens of Malabar Hill is the largest and deepest bored road tunnel in India. Named “Mavala” in honour of the infantry soldier warriors of Shivaji Maharaj, L&T, the construction company, has engaged a 2500 MT Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM); the largest ever deployed in the country. The coastal road once completed, will make South Mumbai truly World class !!!
Lowlight of the week was the most comprehensive defeat in the World Cup cricket semifinal in Australia. Like millions of Indians, I am also a great TV spectator cricketer and keen follower of the game. Totally disappointed with the abject surrender by the team. But we move on.
Thankfully, masks and Covid fear is off the radar. Travel is back with vengeance. Life is back to normal, the challenging way, the competitive way, the SEEGOS way.