And for a Friday in Aamchi Mumbai with monsoon in full fury, some thoughts..… some musings…..
Mumbai will never be the same.
While you may complain, cry foul of the traffic, flooding during high tide and monsoon, pollution etc. etc. but Mumbai is Mumbai. This city, particularly South Mumbai where I live has its own unique character I love. Compared to any other city, it has its quite implicit efficiency and productivity, some unique experiments and innovations. Mumbai Police – this monsoon I see very cute White Tents at important Road junctions for protection from rain. It is very aesthetically done and excellent utility to the Policemen. BEST buses – still the best city buses of all all cities in India with some of the most endearing Drivers and Conductors, it’s historic, from July 15, 1926 when the first Bus was introduced plying from Afghan Church to Crawford Market, to now some Electric and also comfortably Air conditioned BEST buses have also been introduced. Excellent services, always experimenting and innovating. Ofcourse nothing to beat the lifeline of this City, the suburban Railway lines – Western, Central and Harbour lines. Mumbaikars know we are still in COVID times as Suburban train services are not yet fully restored.
Ofcourse the Game changer will be the world class Coastal Road Project, 29.2 kms from Nariman Point in extreme South to Kandivali in western suburbs. What a roller coaster ride this Project has had – Civic Activists to fishermen to Bird lovers, every forum who theoretically could object, did object vehemently. Bombay High court struck project down as per Coastal Zones Regulations. Project almost went into cold storage. Finally the Supreme Court intervened and the Go -Ahead signal came in December 2019. Now there is no looking back. The toughest 3.4 kms twin tunnels under the sea bed from Priyadarshini Park Napean Sea Road underground to Malabar Hill to Girgaum Chowpathy is almost ready. 100 of the total 110 hectares of land to be reclaimed from Sea is also complete. Thanks to majority of development oriented Mumbaikars and the leadership of every Political party who handheld the Scheme at its most crucial death stages, the Project is well on stream. Mumbai will have the masterpiece by 2024. Every Mumbaikar will be proud to showcase this city.
Mumbai is the bell weather city for the country. Fought the second wave and was the Model city for other Metros to emulate. As the Financial capital of India, let us all support the full commercial restart of the city, combined with COVID protocols, the safe way, the vaccinated way, the SEEGOS way.