• Mumbai Civic Polls might be held in end 2025. Here are 12 ideas that the BJP can look at because it does not carry any baggage from the past. Ideas include vision for Mumbai, protection of citizen rights during redevelopment, cyclone protection, water harvesting and transport, better managed hospitals and transport undertaking. Lastly, improved communication. 

DRAFT

Years ago when PM Modi was Chief Minister of Gujarat he spoke about involving people in governance. By inaugurating an online platform seeking suggestions from Mumbaikars, CM Fadnavis and BJP Mumbai President Ameet Satam are following in his footsteps.

I am glad that there is a formal digital platform where citizens can give their suggestions. Here are some ideas from the son of a refugee, Marathi speaking Mumbaikar and a Chartered Accountant who does not claim to be an Urban Planning Expert.

At the outset, must state that the Coastal Road has changed how Mumbaikars perceive the BMC. This project along with Atal Setu have raised aspirations for a better and greener Mumbai.

1 Coastal Road Promenade, Worli. This road was conceived in the 1970s.

Filling potholes, toilets, keeping the city cleaner and women safety is routinely expected from any party so not delving on that.

Since the BJP has never independently ruled BMC (Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation) one would expect it looks at Mumbai’s problems afresh. Here are some ideas, not in any order of priority – 

Atal Setu was conceived in the 1960s 

1. Five year Vision for Mumbai.

We wish that before the BMC Polls, BJP shares its Vision for Mumbai City (actually Mumbai Metropolitan Region) with goals, milestones are a matter of detail.

2. Free Redevelopment Consultation and Strengthening Deputy Registrar’s.

There is a huge of amount of redevelopment activity in South/Central Mumbai and Western Suburbs. Legal and commercial aspects are very complex. In order to help residents of societies successfully navigate this maze, the BJP could have a Redevelopment Lawyer at their office in Dadar (for island city and eastern suburbs) and in Kandivali (for western suburbs). The lawyer could come say once a week, for five hours and answer questions on process/consumer protection.  

Similarly, with an intent to help ordinary society members, there could be a senior person deputed in key wards who could, say twice a week, attend to Member Complaints where Managing Committee is not following Section 79A or and other provisions of the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1960 (MCS Act)

3. CA Ramesh Prabhu, Redevelopment Expert and Chairman, Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association, suggestions-

“Redevelopment is going on across Maharashtra esp. in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune, Nashik and Nagpur. The enabling provisions in DCPR 2034 for Mumbai and Unified DCPR 2020 for rest of Maharashtra are game changers.”

“Now, government should focus on regulating the sector by creating an Independent Authority who will regulate transaction between society, its members, developers, investors, contractors, Project Management Consultants and other service providers or Beneficiaries in redevelopment.  It should cover tenanted buildings, Property submitted under Maharashtra Apartment Ownership Act 1970, cess buildings etc.”

The authority could cover issues such as delay in starting redevelopment, violations of Developer Agreement conditions, non-payment of rent, not vacating premises, termination of the developer, appointment of first or change of developer, monitoring and supervising the project commencement to completion, addressing disputes etc.”

The state government must request Finance Minister Sitharaman to come out with clarifications or an FAQ on potential income-tax issues w.r.t redevelopment covering essentially individual and society’s tax liabilities. This will provide clarity and reduce member stress whilst potentially enhancing revenue. Read FAQ by CA Deepak Tikekar and CA Pradeep Kapasi

While accepting the need for redevelopment, the current frenzy must might make Mumbai more of a concrete jungle where 15-20 storey towers are made on single building plots. If creative solutions are found, the next crisis can be avoided. For BMC earning revenue should be as important as the quality of life. I am not against redevelopment for e.g. of the Worli Dairy where market dynamics have changed whereby milk is supplied in plastic pouches not bottles.

Real estate sector contributes to GDP growth and employment but at what cost?   

3 Buildings in the Worli-Prabhadevi area. 2025.

Concretization of roads, though being done with good intent, prevents rain water from seeping into the ground during the monsoons and in the summers contributes to heating.

Can BMC work with IIT-Mumbai amongst others to identify better quality raw materials that can be used in road-making?

4. Maintaining Mumbai’s Identity.

Mumbai has and should always be a Maharashtrian city. Most of us undermine their contribution to the city’s work culture. If they leave the city, Mumbai’s working class would be poorer. This is not to ignore contribution of Indians from South India. 

A related issue is migration from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It took place in large numbers earlier. So far demand was met with people from UP and Bihar where opportunities did not exist earlier. Now days youngsters prefer to work closer to home i.e. Delhi-NCR or in U.P. where huge opportunities are opening up like the Defence Corridor in Bundelkhand (Jhansi region). Plus there were not enough Marathi Manoos to meet Mumbai’s growing needs esp. in construction sector.

Since their numbers are reducing, Mumbaikars should be careful not to replace them with illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. They will change the ethos and culture of the city forever.

BMC could educate the public on how based, on language and style of speaking, a Mumbaikar could distinguish between a Bengali India and a Bangladeshi.  

As the son of a refugee, I was never made to feel by Maharashtrians that the city was not home. As a symbol of gratitude, I speak Marathi far better than my mother tongue and also ensured that www.esamskriti.com has numerous articles on Maratha History starting with Chhatrapati Marathi Maharaj

Another acquaintance, born Gujarati speaks Marathi fluently. Read Experiences of a Marathi speaking Gujarati in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu

Not much is written about the Judicial System of the Marathas.

BMC can contribute by adopting/building Centre of Excellence like the Ravindra Natya Mandir.

Also, real estate prices in the island city and suburbs of Mumbai are leapfrogging making it difficult for the employment oriented Marathi manoos to live here. More and more are shifting to MMR and beyond. Perhaps, government owned MHADA can step up their affordable housing efforts esp. for Marathi manoos.

Lastly, the Koli (fishing) community’s villages need to be preserved. They are an intrinsic part of Mumbai’s culture and descendants of the original inhabitants of Mumbai.

7 Worli Fishing Village, Mumbai.

5 Sea at Navy Nagar, Colaba, Mumbai.

6 Sea at Walkeshwar, Mumbai. In these pics notice sea on both sides.

5. Preventive protection from tropical cyclones.

Since Mumbai is an island city how do we protect it from cyclones / sea water gushing in esp. on the western side of the city¸ starting from Colaba to Borivali. 

Thus, Mumbai needs mangroves or their equivalent to protect the city. The proposed forests/gardens along the coastal road must keep this aspect in mind whilst designing the same.

Some ideas are from a talk given by BJP Mumbai President Ameet Satam.

6. Water harvesting.

Due to the rain Gods being benevolent, Mumbai has not faced a water problem in the recent past. This generosity has spoilt Mumbaikars, who are unable to visualise a life with water cuts.

With the ever increasing number of cars, buildings and people the demand for water is going to surge. New Lakes can help but what if it rains less, in these times of climate change.

Thus, water harvesting by all societies must be encouraged before making it mandatory.  Can these plans be integrated with flood control is an idea worth exploring?

Gateway of India from ferries leave for Elephanta Caves. 

7. Water transport.

In 2015 I wrote Mumbai needs a network of ferry services  This needs to be explored afresh esp. on the eastern coast. Hongkong runs a successfully ferry service for most days of the year. Fyi Hongkong’s leading operator Star Ferry was started by an Indian, Dorabjee Naorojee, in 1888.

It might also be an alternate mode of transport from South and Central Mumbai to the New International Airport near Panvel.

8. Mini-forests.

Open spaces and traffic islands must have Mini-Forests. These could counter the ill-effects of concretization and improve quality of life.

Plant Trees should be Mumbaikars cha slogan.

9. Better Communication

BMC need to strengthen its communication with Mumbaikars. For example it could share what it takes in terms of organization to keep Mumbai running or why Mumbai’s unique topography, being an island city built on reclaimed land, makes it prone to flooding.

Also, BMC must tell Mumbaikars how use of low grade plastic and dumping of wastes into Mithi River contributes to flooding.

India is the Land of Dharma (duty) more than Rights (a colonial concept).

10. BMC Hospitals

We realized the importance of public health infrastructure during the pandemic. Having taken vaccine doses at government hospitals, must say was impressed.

However, in normal times consumer orientation of staff, esp. those that interact with citizens, could improve.

Can the BJP review how these hospitals function with an intent to reduce corruption, improve infrastructure and service orientation of staff.

11. Revive BEST

BEST was once the pride of Mumbai.

Can the operations be reviewed to enhance the quality of service, integration with other modes of public transport and become a self-sustaining legal entity (do not mean profit-making).

12. Conversion of City Waste into Power

If not done so already, this needs to be explored with all seriousness since Mumbai generates app 7,000 tons of solid waste per day. A small plant to process 600 tons of waste per day is set up. Surely, a lot more can be done. Needs focus and political will.