May Blog 14

Urban Transport Crisis

Transport is an indispensable part of our lives. The moment we step out of our house, we require different modes of transportation to reach our destination. Although Mumbai is blessed with a plethora of commuting choices, it is cursed to not have economically viable public transport option for all, especially the poor. Transport related investments are made to cater to car users rather than improving public transport for the aam aadmi or the common man. Even after coughing up large sums on travel, citizens who have to depend on public transport cannot commute in comfort. In fact many are forced to travel dangerously! Trains, which were once the lifeline of the city, have lost its glory with the number of accidents and death of commuters rising each day. Roads are so congested and the traffic so chaotic that pedestrians and cyclists have hardly any space to walk or pedal safely. There is clear lack of long-term vision and planning by authorities to address the transport requirement of the city.

There have been a few initiatives like the sea-link, monorail, metro, skywalks, etc to address the commuter needs, but in most cases the story seem to be of too many cooks spoiling the broth. Most projects are running way behind their schedules and the cost escalations are phenomenal. Are these new initiatives offering practical commuting options to the Mumbaikars? Do they meet the yawning gap between demand and supply? Is Mumbai anywhere close to fulfilling it’s once upon a time dream of aping Shanghai? The May issue tries to draw attention to the most widely discussed and criticised aspect of our city, which is the Urban Transport. Each and every layer of the existing travelling options are put under the scanner to highlight its advantages and disadvantages, if any.

In the lead article, ‘Blueprint for Sustainable Urban Mobility’, writer Sudhir Badami highlights the transportation woes of the urban population by strongly advocating the need to prioritise pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and efficient road public transport system to address mobility problems.

The writer is an IIT Bombay graduate in Civil & Structural Engineering. He is on Government of Maharashtra’s Steering Committee on BRTS for Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s Technical Advisory Committee on BRTS for Mumbai. He is also member of Research & MIS Committee of Unified Mumbai Metropolitan Transport Authority.

In the article, ‘Chasing the holy grail of sustainable transport’, environmentalist Rishi Aggarwal strongly projects that unless there is public outrage against transportation problems in Mumbai, and a display of vision, courage and leadership from the government to address these issues, sustainable transport in the city will remain a holy grail.

The writer is an environmental activist and a Research Fellow at Observer Research Foundation where he convenes the Mumbai Transport Forum.  His book “The Futility of Aam Aadmi Party versus the Promise of Active Citizenship” was released in April 2014.

In ‘Mumbai’s lifeline or deathline?’, Dipak Gandhi says Mumbai trains have become death traps for commuters taking an annual toll of over 3500 lives. In his opinion, commuting can be made safer if railway authorities adopt modern traffic management and cyclic timetable that is followed internationally.

The writer is the chairman of the Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers’ Association.

In the write up, ‘Shanghai dreams’ writer A.V.Shenoy declares that Mumbai is far from its dream of modernising the city on the lines of Shanghai, and a major reason for this is the lack of coordination between the various agencies involved in overhauling its transportation system.

The writer is a member of Mumbai Vikas Samiti looking into issues relating to infrastructure, transportation and housing in Mumbai.

The article, ‘Inter-modal connectivity missing for a seamless travel’ talks about the new metro in the city. Bina C. Balakrishnan points out the basic flaws in Indian metro rail systems, which she says have been designed as stand-alone system, completely ignoring the need for inter-modal connectivity, leading to high commuter stress.

The writer has over 35 years of work experience as an engineer and a planner and has been working as a transport consultant.

In ‘Skywalks, a boon to pedestrians’ writer Krishnaraj Rao argues that increasingly shrinking public spaces in metros that are criss-crossed with speeding vehicular traffic, skywalks are a boon as they provide safe, uninterrupted walk for the teeming pedestrians.

The writer is a journalist and a leading campaigner for pedestrians rights, Right to Information and Judicial Reforms.

In the article, ‘Mumbai may have already missed the bus’, S. Sriraman talks about the distinctive problems in Mumbai’s transportation and why they cannot be solved at least the way it is now being attempted.

The writer is Walchand Hirachand Professor of Transport Economics, Department of Economics, University of Mumbai.

In the article, ‘Weak public transport, Mumbai’s bane’ Amit Bhatt states public transport is the backbone of Mumbai but this is an area which has been neglected for too long, resulting in increasing dependence on private vehicles and traffic congestion that is adversely impacting human life.

The writer is the strategy head – urban transport at EMBARQ India. He is based in Delhi and provides vision and leadership to all transport initiatives across EMBARQ India, managing relationships with partners and stakeholders.

In, ‘Monorail on a bumpy ride’, Jagdeep Desai says the country’s first monorail is an ill-conceived system forced on the city of Mumbai, just to boast that the city has a monorail in addition to a metro.

The writer is an architect and founder trustee of Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai Suburbs.

KNOW INDIA BETTER

The Royal Reserve: Bandhavgarh

One has to be lucky to see a tiger in every other reserve, but really unlucky not to see one in Bandhavgarh. But, the tiger is lord of his domain and not ours to command, says Katie Dubey, as she takes us on a tiger trail deep into the Bandhavgarh forest, one of the most popular national parks in the country, and also tells us interesting legends associated with the Bandhavgarh fort.

The writer is the author of three coffee-table books and writes for various newspapers and magazines on nature and environment.

face to face

The return of Alyque Padamsee

Alyque Padamsee is an institution unto himself – in the advertising world and in the world of theatre. His personal life has also been extremely unconventional ranging from his complete agnosticism when he withdrew from the religion he was born into through his three marriages that amazed the masses when he took all three wives together with the children for lunch or dinner at some posh dining place. When this very radical and revolutionary socialist who is immersed in civil rights in his city withdraws from the stage as an actor but continues directing, it makes news. It makes bigger news when he returns to act after 40 long years.

Padamsee, nearly 90, in a tete-a-tete with Shoma Chatterji.

The writer is a freelance journalist, film scholar and author. She has authored 17 published titles and won the National Award for Best Writing on Cinema twice. She won the UNFPA-Laadli Media Award, 2010 for ‘commitment to addressing and analysing gender issues’ among many awards. She is currently Senior Research Fellow, ICSSR, Delhi researching the politics of presentation of working women in post-colonial Bengali cinema 1950 to 2003.

“Kudumbashree women have moved towards leadership, governance and politics”

Jagajeevan Neelakandapillai was a former programme officer with Kudumbashree Mission and former general secretary of the Kerala Sasthra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP, also known as the People’s Science Movement). Currently, he works with the department of health, Government of Kerala and continues to be a key Resource Person (RP) for the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) – Community Based Organisations (CBOs) Convergence Project of Kudumbashree.

In an interview with Anuradha Kalhan, Neelakandapillai tells us how Kudumbashree has been Kerala’s highly effective poverty eradication mission.  

 The writer is a fellow at Teen Murti Foundation.

In YOUTH VOICE Pratik Mantri a freelance writer based in Ahmedabad highlights the neglect and problems faced by the senior citizens of our country. He urges the youth to take a pledge to care for our elders. Pratik loves to read, write, follow sports and politics closely.

The General section features an article ‘Elections, manifestos and women’. Women have emerged as a potential vote bank in India. Analysing election manifestos, Kiran Moghe says there is not a great deal of substantive difference in the promises made for the women of India, either by the Congress or BJP.

The writer is National Secretary, All India Democratic Women’s Association.

CULTURAL KALEIDOSCOPE is on ‘Kathakali – The story dance’. Kathakali can be described as the “theatre of imagination” where the dance signifies good over evil. Noted Kathakali exponent Dr Kanak Rele explains the nuances of this dance form through its acting, music, colour and costumes.

The writer is Director, Nalanda Dance Research Center and is a recipient of Padmabhushan award, Akademi Ratna (Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi)

We also have an interesting feature on ‘Weaving Paithani saris and dreams in Aurangabad’ by Women’s Feature Services.

BOOK REVIEW

Chaudhvin ka Chand: The Original Screenplay

Contributed by Piroj Wadia a freelance journalist

IN great Indians, we have profiled

Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb

An inspirational spiritual leader (1915-2014)

Khushwant Singh

Witty and fearless writer (1915 – 2014)

Brigadier Desmond E Hayde MVC
The braveheart Commander (1926-2013)

And also read our regular columns and other features. To book a copy, email to oiopfoundation@gmai.com / oiop@vsnl.net  or call Nagesh Bangera,  OIOP Subscription-in-charge at 022- 2353 44 00.

We look forward to your feedback.