found 04 - mumbai vision 2015

by Abhay Pethe

TRANSPORT _

1. There is a need for simplification and hence time reduction in carrying out the process of external funding and proper responsibility placed on various agencies involved such as MMRDA or MSRTC or MCGM to adopt a time bound target oriented approach in a coordinated and accountable manner, perhaps by setting up Metropolitan Transport Authority.
2. Empower states through suitable modification of acts and dc rules to implement different mass transit solutions.
3. Traffic management solutions such as universal pay and park at reasonable fees, along with well-established solution such as dedicated bus lanes, introduction of luxury modes will not only provide resources but also create employment apart from easing the traffic congestion and allowing citizens to travel at greater speed within Mumbai.
4. Multi-purpose/ modal network strategically spread across the region especially given the northward spread (out of the peninsula) to support the north-south road and railway corridors.
5. Rationalization of railway fares, with the important provision that the resources so increased should be tied/ dedicated to infrastructural improvement and maintenance of existing stock.
6. The efforts are on to quadruple or double the lines on Western and Central Railways and increase in number of rakes, these it is hoped will see completion on time. The sensitive issue of clearance of property along the tracks will be sorted out.
7. Clearly only one solution will not work and bouquet of approaches will need to be worked out. These will involve, mono-rail, elevated transport, metro-rail, water ways as well as the newer solutions such as the Sky Bus.
8. Whilst some of these projects are already on course to going online, the sky bus project requires special mention. Sky Bus project is an indigenous, first rate embodying safe/ secure technology (relative to other solutions such as metro rail).
   

ENERGY _

1. There is a history of consumers – sometimes without realizing it – part financing the power projects. This is potentially a good practice and needs to be extended and expanded but in a formalized form so that resources are raised and accountability norms are established.
2. Empower through implementation of the Electricity Act in letter and spirit so that there is a breakup of bulky organisations into manageable entities leading to forces of efficiency arising out of unbundling, expansion and privatization are unleased. Whatever the development model comes about, it is a safe bet that Mumbai’s demand over the decade will double.
3. Given that the recent episodes of disasters have given bad press to Mumbai which it can ill afford, there is a need to have in place emergency supply of minimum electricity. This can be done through alternative energy initiatives, for this – given that the Arabian Sea sits along Mumbai – we must garner wave and solar energy in particular. This can be implemented through a coordination city forum entrusting and monitoring, in a parallel way, the existing licensees through regulatory oversights. The estimated essential emergency power supply – which will be around 750 megawatts – should be weaved into the normal power supply.
4. Categorical, clear and immediate declaration of rural areas, exempt entities and enabling policy for less than 500 megawatt plants so that hinterland areas and large private societies are empowered.

HEALTH CARE _

1. Recognise the present functioning of the health system so as to create – under the public domain – a mix of public-private elements structured in such a way and provided with adequate resources to ensure efficient delivery. The restructuring will involve partitioning of referral and primary services on one hand and ambulatory, hospitalisation and specialized services on the other.
2. A comprehensive package for primary and referral services to be provided to all through amalgamation of private dispensaries and health posts along the lines of NHS. This would lead to rational referral and could be managed – with marginal expansion and improvement – by the existing system.
3. The public health set up can then concentrate on the civic issues arising out of externalities. Further it is estimated that the efficiency gains from the reorganisation as suggested will lead to as cost to exchequer that will be well within the assured UPA budgetary caps under the NCMP.
4. In order to rationally strategize we require a good information database. Health-care system in Mumbai is in dire need of this so that specific policy initiatives (clinical, preventive community based) can be devised in an efficient manner.

SLUM REHABILITATION & LOW COST HOUSING _

1. There need to be regulatory initiatives such as rationalization of Property tax (so as to become the main source of revenue), removal of Urban Land Ceiling and Rent Control Act. Fortunately, this is realistically likely to happen because it is listed as a prerequisite for being eligible for funds under JNNRUM. This is likely to create incentives for augmenting the supply of housing stock (old and new) at more affordable rates.
2. At the level of provision of housing stock more realistic and pragmatic schemes for low cost housing and slum rehabilitation need to be put in place. Indeed there has to be a sensible city development plan to ensure open spaces and affordable for citizens especially when some lands become available (as in the case of textile lands). Such atrocities as the passage of DCR 58 must never be allowed to happen.
3. There is a serious contestation of space between different players especially the so called ‘builders lobby’ and the ngo’s not to mention architects, urban planners and bureaucracy. The grass root level (actual) stake-holders are pulled by all sides often with disastrous results and procrastination. This should be tackled head on informed by pragmatism.
4. There has to be a clear delineation of rules of the game followed by discussion between all the stakeholders. At any rate there has to be clear end rule with a committed time bound closure and action. Otherwise the underlying doubts and the vested interests on all sides will win the day.
5. The first step is to use GIS and other technology tools available and with the help of NGO’s to create a slum census. Then one needs to have a development strategy that is guided by simple rules devoid of encumbrances so as to avoid litigation on one hand and difficulty of monitoring and implementation on the other.
6. Further we need to create a tenured agency (authority) to oversee implementation (paying attention to transitory tenements). The action plan (DPR) has to be in place complete with time lines. One of the relevant things to do – especially by NGO’s – is to build capacity in CBO’s and lower groups so that effective participation of the poor can be ensured.
7. Both the relevant contributions in the book are detailed and comprehensive with details of implementation and enabling initiatives. The consensus seems to be that the present SRA scheme, especially the free housing needs to be scrapped. With enabling institutional enablement it would be possible to have the affected persons pay (partially) for the houses. All the rules, including the CRZ and NDZ (where applicable) and environmental concerns should be simplified so as to create more potential supply and avoid delays due to mid-course litigation.
8. The census will enable the minimum area/ size to be taken up at the threshold level. The minimum level of acceptable consensus has to be decided. To repeat time bounded approach has to be followed with specified time related end rules for decision have to be strictly adhered to. This alone will ensure movement and consequently inspire confidence in future progress.
9. Most importantly, whilst the problem is being solved, it must be effectively ensured that there is no emergence of it in other places. This will have to be mandate for bureaucrats and politicians with a non-negotiable ‘zero-tolerance’ towards new encroachments.

ECONOMY & FINANCE _

1. There no point in harping upon the past glory and hub that Mumbai was, of the textile mills and such other manufacturing activities. The changed reality stares in our face. At the same time Mumbai is home to large mass of people who are literate but uneducated and with skills not matching to the current and future demand. Jobless growth will lead to social strife. It is therefore of utmost importance that we set up large number of polytechnics and similar vocational institutes that will endow the masses with requisite skills thereby giving employment and livelihoods to them.
2. Mumbai is strategically positioned to don the cap of a premier regional hub of finance and related services of international standards. It has a pool of skilled persons that will help to plug the gap existing in the Asian economy and can far out grow the current status as an emerging offshore banking outfit. We of course will need to get our act right in terms of infrastructure provision of transport, telecom and affordable real estate.
3. Institutional and regulatory changes will need to be made to encourage starting up businesses in IT, media, entertainment and organised retail. More specifically segregation of offshore and onshore businesses so as to separate regulatory controls and protecting banking system from systemic or imported risk. Further, FEMA, IT Act, RBI and Banking Acts and Indian stamp Act will need to be amended with changes being in the nature of regulatory consents.
4. For the IT/BPO/KPO industries we need to carve out a knowledge township with quality office space and ambience for cultural and entertainment enjoyment. Apart from e-connectivity, a no-break power supply is a must. World class mass transit system and refurbished and efficient Airports connecting domestic and international cities and towns is required. The regulation should broadly provide encouragement to the start-up activities in this area and one which is efficient.
   
5. Interactive Media including gaming is yet another strong sector in which Mumbai has a great comparative advantage. The ethos and the resource pool make the situation ripe and waiting to be exploited. We must create WiFi/ WiMAX areas in the city.
6. With the kind of city economy of the future which is in nature of 24 x 7, there are obvious implications from the point of view of hospitality, tourism and entertainment. Restrictions on night life activity are untenable and should be a strict NO. The fact that they could lead to safety concerns have to tackled in ways not involving closure ore restrictions. The integrated nature of the industry has to be recognised. Further there is need to have regulatory encouragement that allow infrastructure like 2 and 3 star hotels to be set up so as to cater to economy class tourist both domestic and international. This has huge employment potential apart from fuelling economic growth, as seen by experience elsewhere in the world.

ENVIRONMENT _

1. There is always some trade-off between development and growth on one hand and environmental degradation. Thus one cannot take extreme position on this matter except for polemical reasons. There has to be a charter of clear policy available which deals with various aspects in detail, enunciated in measurable and observable terms. This will allow efficient implementation and will not look at the legitimate concerns as being a nuisance to gotten around.
2. In real estate development including residential buildings, the FSI should be granted based on the considerations of capacity for water and solid waste management as well as traffic/ noise pollution. Overall perspective of city landscape (including provision for civic amenities and open spaces) should be brought to bear by city fathers (and other relevant legislators) in creating and amending development control rules and development plans.
3. Whilst there is a clear conflict of interest regarding CRZ and development and political pressures, there is also a real concern of scientists about the ecological damage that unbridled development can cause. Not just clear guidelines by way of law but more importantly a linear process of clearance (without multiplicity of caveats, authorities and interests) is essential that will protect but not hinder is called for. What is required is an integrated coastal ecosystem conservation charter which makes Mumbai a digital gateway to coastal zone management making good use of coastal life and resources.
4. The air pollution due to vehicular traffic needs to be tackled in several ways. We need to target most polluting and used vehicles for stricter monitoring. The structural issues regarding fuel quality and vehicle technology are common knowledge that call for information dissemination. There have to be incentives for better compliance. The issues have to be approached through better training and information for users.
5. Keeping the micro as well as macro perspective the institutions aspects have to be modified and coordinated so that better implementation will prevail. Here too the specific strategies and action as well as monitoring and feedback require local level data collection.

EDUCATION _

1. It is clear that our efforts at rigid, institutionalized universal primary education for all have failed. What is required is an extension and informal approach enabled through the instrument of civil society organs. The clinical approach that was embodied in the Municipal schools structure has not delivered and is anyway on the decline.
2. The private schools’ structure is not big enough to take care of all the potential recipients and is not affordable for all. This issue needs to be looked at in a way that is integrated with livelihood issue. Thus child care system has to go with education hand in hand. Out of box thinking is called for and the grass root NGO’s will have to be empowered to use general guidance in terms of curricular content and skills to deliver. This alone will ensure comfort to the kids in learning using idioms and montages that they can identify with.
3. For higher (University and Professional) level learning we need to set up institutions of excellence if we want to cater to the kind of economy for Mumbai that we have been talking about. The huge infrastructure needs mean that the state has to provide the requisite resources. Also the human resources required will have to be of a very high quality. That will imply that the wage contracts will have to match the best alternatives available. The government sector will have to identify and focus on nurturing few such institutions and back it requisite resources. Even with the revenue emanating from education cess, this will require a self-binding commitment on the part of the government that seems unrealistic to assume in the present socio-political climate.
4. Given the above the private sector will have to play a role in this context in a big way. This has already started happening in Mumbai. Whilst we are hopeful of the emergence of this new institutional mechanism of private colleges and universities there are teething problems. There will have to be a proper mix worked out of un-intrusive supervision and regulation that will allow private enterprise to thrive but will have transparency vis-a-vis admission policy and fee structure. With academic freedom to devise market driven courses we are hopeful that such a policy will deliver to a great extent.

ART, HERITAGE & CULTURE _

1. Mumbai has been one of the earliest Indian cities to have heritage conservation laws. The beautiful and inspiring structures of Mumbai are purveyors of its rich history and culture. There are some lacunae in implementation and stringency in resource allocation, but they will have to be overcome.
2. There are hopeful signs though for the future. There is a movement towards listing 1000 sites and conservation must begin in right ernest. If the richest city in India and its financial and commercial capital cannot find in its heart to provide for it then who will. The government alone cannot be expected to do all. The corporates and the Mumbaikars must come forward and deliver.
3. Local area groups must get together and look after their residential or work neighbourhoods if they are lucky enough to find themselves situated at heritage places. This has already started happening. This movement must gain momentum with the elite in the city providing leadership.
4. In doing this ‘museum mentality’ must be avoided. The heritage must be preserved, but functionality must be kept intact or restored. Heritage sites clustered together provide an economically viable solution. This could be done by creating Heritage walk for attracting tourists. Even the hospitality industry has a role to play here. There is a common refrain, that the foreign tourists. There is a common refrain, that the foreign tourists want a flavour of the city and its culture rather than a suite and environ that is identical to the one found in their native/ home countries.
   
5. Culture also is also carried through the vehicle of ‘art’. Whether it is the theatre, cinema, visual or performing arts all of these appear to have lost their zing of late. The once vibrant experimental art is on the decline. Surely, the bazaar cannot and should not be allowed to so completely overpower and over shadow the art scene. This is felt especially by the emerging and upcoming artistes. The city must provide space for Artiplexes and studio for showcasing these talents. The experimental entities as well as the established art must have a space demarcated within the city; this is not a matter of socialite events, but rather a matter of life and death of a living society.
6. The schools, colleges and the university campuses strewn all over the city, have a great role to play in this regard. They number in hundreds. Their auditoria class rooms and even corridors can be transformed into cultural centres. They will then, in the process become more meaningful educational institutions. Of course an enlightened government out to consider it a sacred duty and make provision for a few such facilities. That will be the day.