FIX YOU!

Mumbai, a metropolis, which has been a cradle of aspirations for millions, is now poised to reinvent itself through a series of ambitious infrastructural projects. At the heart of this transformation lies the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project, a 21 KM long engineering endeavour of colossal proportions with an estimated value of approximately INR 18,000 crores ($2.25 billion). Now the challenge is to set a toll that not only ensures the project's economic sustainability but also remains sensitive to the cost concerns of potential users. This project, monumental in its scope and potential impact, has stirred a crucial and intense debate centred around the proposed toll rates of INR 350 to 500 ($4.5 to $6.25) per trip. These high rates have necessitated a comprehensive analysis while determining the toll rates, considering both economic thresholds and psychological perceptions of affordability.?

The toll debate underscores a fundamental concern: if toll charges surpass certain economic and psychological thresholds, the MTHL could become a route reserved predominantly for exigency, thereby undermining its intended role as a facilitator of seamless, everyday connectivity across regions unlocking extensive areas near Panvel, Uran, and the Mumbai-Pune highways, thereby alleviating the housing burden in the densely populated corridors of Vasai-Virar & Kalyan-Badlapur. Drawing insights from global benchmarks, such as the tolling strategies of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge and San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, can offer valuable perspectives in setting a balanced, equitable toll structure.

In exploring the MTHL's role within the broader scheme of Mumbai's infrastructure expansion, there is a need for an integrated, strategic approach in urban planning. This approach must harmonize economic feasibility with public accessibility, ensuring that the infrastructural advancements serve as inclusive conduits for urban mobility, rather than becoming barriers due to prohibitive costs.

Demand supply gap in Public transit in Mumbai?

The public transport system of Mumbai, grappling with the daily commute of approximately 8 million train and 4 million bus users, is a glaring indicator of the city's overstretched infrastructure. Since independence, the growth in the city's road length and the number of transit stations has been stagnant compared to the burgeoning population and its mobility needs. In response, the city's trains have incrementally expanded from 6 to 12/15 compartments over the past four decades. However, this expansion falls significantly short of addressing the immense demand. To cater to both the current and future needs of its ever-growing populace, Mumbai urgently requires a strategic enhancement of its public transport system to align with global urban standards.?

As renowned architect and urban planner, Daniel Burnham said, ‘Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood’. Now, an extensive transport infrastructure overhaul involving multiple high-value projects with an estimated budget of over INR 300,000 crores (approximately $37.5 billion) is underway in the MMR region which includes:-?

1. Mumbai Metro development by MMRCL ( 12 lines under construction),?
2. Coastal Road project by BMC,?
3. MRVC's continuous upgrades to the suburban train system,?
4. MSRDC's multi-faceted Bandra-Versova-Dahisar-Vasai….may be up to Palghar Sea Link,?
5. The cutting-edge Ahmedabad-Mumbai Bullet Train for regional connectivity.?

Each of these initiatives, with their unique financial and operational models, plays a pivotal role in the overarching vision for Mumbai's urban transit transition.

Overlapping Projects and Debt Servicing: A Strategic Challenge

The intricate web of infrastructure projects in Mumbai, supported by long-term loans from international agencies like the World Bank, AIIB, JICA, and ADB, presents a complex scenario of overlapping objectives and financial commitments. Managing these overlapping projects requires a strategic, holistic assessment to prevent them from eating into each other's traffic volumes and, consequently, their revenue streams and debt servicing capabilities.?

This necessitates a coordinated approach in development, with a keen eye on ensuring complementary rather than competitive relationships among these projects. Detailed project reports (DPRs) must be meticulously prepared, taking into account the ongoing and planned infrastructure initiatives to ensure realistic estimates of traffic flow and revenue generation, thereby safeguarding the financial health of each project. This demands continuous dialogue & and coordination between a dozen or so agencies working parallel in the city.

Prioritizing Public Transport in Urban Development: A Paradigm Shift

It is generally observed that, In the realm of urban infrastructure, public transport often takes a backseat to more visually impactful projects like massive flyovers and sea links. As a result, there was no consideration of dedicated bus lanes on the Eastern Freeway, Bandra-Worli Sea Link or MTHL. This made it a more car-oriented infrastructure.

Now, given Mumbai's acute public transit infrastructure challenges, a paradigm shift is needed to prioritize public transport infrastructure, such as the Metro, BRT, and enhanced bus services, over car-centric developments. This strategic prioritization is crucial for Mumbai’s evolution into a city with a robust, sustainable, and people-centric public transit system, reflecting global best practices like European cities and mitigating the risks of becoming an automobile-dominated metropolis like many cities in the United States.?

Such a transformative strategy requires unwavering support from political leaders and the public, despite potential challenges in terms of popularity and political optics. Emphasizing the long-term benefits of a well-planned public transport system, including reduced traffic congestion, lower pollution levels, and improved quality of life, is essential in garnering this support.

Empowering the Urban Mobility Inter-coordination:? A Call for Stronger Governance

Mumbai’s Urban Mobility Transport Authority (UMTA) currently operates with limited authority and enforcement power, a situation that hampers the effective integration and alignment of the city's multifaceted infrastructural development. For a more synergistic and sustainable urban growth trajectory, it is empirical to entrust UMTA with strategic planning, policy formulation, and oversight responsibilities, ensuring that various transit projects are not only aligned with the city's overarching development goals but also mutually reinforcing.?

Crafting a Strategic Vision for Mumbai’s Infrastructure

The complex interplay of financial, logistical, and socio-economic factors in projects like the MTHL underscores the imperative for a strategic, comprehensive approach to urban infrastructure development in Mumbai. By prioritizing public transport, and ensuring a coordinated, complementary development across various projects, Mumbai can chart a course towards a more efficient, interconnected, and sustainable urban future. This strategic approach addresses not only the immediate concerns surrounding projects like the MTHL but also lays a robust foundation for the city's long-term development. It aligns Mumbai's growth with the needs of its citizens and global urban development standards, setting a precedent for urban infrastructure planning that is both visionary and grounded in the realities of urban life.

#Mumbai #UrbanTransit #SustainableCities #MTHL #PublicTransit #SmartCitiesIndia #UrbanMobility #CoastalRoad #PublicTransportPriority #Sealink