Mumbai is known as the financial capital of India and the city contributes around 35 per cent to the nation’s GDP. Initially the city had developed in the southern part like Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Worli, Napean Sea road, Churchgate etc. Since commercial activities and recreational activities were concentrated in south Mumbai so people had to travel all the way from suburbs for official work and shopping. But after the 70s and 80 there was a massive migration into Mumbai from other parts of the nation.
Due to heavy influx of migrants south Mumbai started witnessing space crunch as real estate prices too started increasing. Mumbai today has fewer square metres of floor space available per resident than almost all other major world cities. Since the city is surrounded by sea on three sides hence it can’t grow horizontally and will have to develop vertically. Gradually people started shifting to suburbs like Bandra, Andheri, Borivali, Ghatkopar, Kurla and Thane. Even though these areas are slightly far from the main city but people started settling there as it offered better lifestyle and accommodation facilities.
But then the influx of migrants continued in the metropolis as suburbs too started witnessing shortage of space. Therefore people started moving out of the city to distant suburbs like Vasai, Virar, Kalyan, Dombivali, Badlapur, Karjat etc. People started buying homes in these locations due to the low property rates prevalent in these areas. On the other hand, they had to spend around 2 to 3 hours for commuting towards their office.
The chawls which were built in 50’s and 60’s started making way for high rise buildings. Thus 30 to 40 floor buildings were constructed in the city which could accommodate large number of people. When the chawl system was prevalent in the city people knew everyone in their vicinity as the entire neighbourhood used to come together for participating in festivals like Holi, Diwali etc.
The construction of high rises further isolated people as they were unaware about who resides in their neighbourhood. There have been instances where people have committed suicide and yet nobody came to know about it. Later society residents realise about the incident when the person doesn’t turn out of his house for several days. Later, the victim’s body is removed by forcibly breaking the door of his house. Town planning activists might be saying that skyscrapers might be a solution for addressing the city’s housing woes but then it also brings in a large number of people. They will have to make provision for improving the drainage and traffic system. No of seats in schools and colleges too will have to be increased and more number of hospitals will have to be constructed. Train services will have to be increased while bus frequency will have to be augmented. If more high rises are constructed then it will only lead to a decline in the open spaces and playgrounds. Moreover, at several places mangroves have been razed for constructing skyscrapers, shopping complexes etc. Finally, citizens need to come forward to preserve the open space and town planners must involve them in the decision making process.
