Short life’s better spent
in Mumbai
Chittaranjan Tembhekar |
TNN
City Has Lifespan Lower Than
National Average, But Best Quality Of Life
Mumbai: The average Mumbaikar may not live as long as people in
the rest of the country, but oddly enough, enjoys a better quality
of life than all of them. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP),
which in its Human Development Report 2009 recently stated that
the Mumbaikar’s average lifespan was seven years below the
national average, adds that Mumbai retains its 2007 ranking at the
top of the quality of life index (QLI) pile among Indian cities.
The 2007 ranking by Ficci and Ernst & Young (E&Y) in their
real estate report, placed both Delhi and Mumbai in the A++
category, with Delhi having a slight edge in some of the total 57
parameters. Delhi had broadly topped in transportation, labour
force
and economic growth, while Mumbai outscored in quality of life
index, urban governance index and hospitality and leisure index.
The report further stated that the success of Navi Mumbai and its
SEZs in Thane and Raigad endorsed Mumbai’s status as the
commercial capital of the country.
The ranking was revisited by the National Resource Centre for
Urban Poverty of All India Institute of Local Self Government,
Mumbai, with the support of UNDP and the Municipal Corporation of
Greater Mumbai.
For the quality of life index, the s u r ve yo r s measured
int a n g i bl e s such as environmental pollution, crime and
safety, recreation and leisure options as parameters of
socio-economic wellbeing. The city figured on top in the
categories like perception of crime and safety and inter-suburb or
intracity transport facilities, besides hospitality.
While Mumbai has a greater population
d e n s i t y and slum population than Delhi, B a n g l o re,
Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad, it ranks better in terms of
management of civic services, the MCGM statistics which formed the
base
document for UNDP study reveals.
In per capita water supply Mumbai is next to Delhi among the
six metropolitan cities with per capita consumption of 259 litres
as against 360 litres in Delhi. In sewage treatment, Delhi has
outnumbered Mumbai but in soli d w a s t e collection and disposal
Mumbai successfully handled the highest quantum of garbage. The
rate of garbage disposal (93.95%) in Mumbai is more efficient than
Delhi (78%) and Banglore (80%), reveals the statistics. In
storm-water drain handling Mumbai again leads with a huge quantum.
In the tarred road length Mumbai ranks third after Banglore and
Delhi with total length to 1,940 km. In terms of open spaces and
parks Mumbai ranks second after Delhi with a total of 753 such
gardens and grounds.
The report concludes that though Mumbai is ahead than other
cities in percentage slum population and population density, but
still has a comparatively good water supply and solid waste and
storm water disposal system. But sewerage treatment facilities,
road networks and parks and gardens need to be improved.
The pressure’s piling on
Mumbai: The UNDP report that has lauded Mumbai’s achievements in
maintaining its quality of life ranking, has also highlighted the
rapidly increasing pressure on the city’s public transport system.
According to the report, the total number of vehicles in Mumbai is
expected to grow from 1.6 million in 2007-08 to 1.87 million by
2010, going by the present rate of addition of 384 vehicles per
day. Transportation expert Beena Balkrishnan disagrees that the
city has maintained its quality of life. She laments, “There are
people who refuse to step out of home just to avoid traiffc. I
don’t understand which quality of life the report is talking
about.”
The reports also highlights the increasing pressure on suburban
rail. First-class season ticket holders from Dahisar to Churchgate
have increased from 6.33 lakh in 2007 to 8.44 lakh in 2008, a rise
of 33.4%. Second-class season ticket holders increased on the same
route from 38.12 lakh to 53.07 lakh, a rise of 39.22%. The
increase in first class passengers from Mira Road, Naigaon and
Nallasopara for the same period is 48.29%, 107.33% and 21.09%
respectively and in the second class, it is 40.08%, 92% and 46.27%
respectively. The study also suggests expansion of facilities to
meet growing needs. The report estimates even if 44% of people
were to go to work on foot, it could help ease the problem. But it
also admits footpaths are shrinking in Mumbai and that
road-widening is almost invariably at the cost of sidewalks,
emphasising that pedestrian’s facilities have to be thought of
while developing roads.
Mumbai has 4,582.7 hectares of industrial land, 21,028.72 hectares
for residential development and 1,756.88 hectares for commercial
development. Total land taken into possesion for open space by
acquiring public-owned plots till 2007 is as follows — 48.42
hectares for garden, 84.86 hectares for recreation ground, and
65.54 hectare for playground. A town planning expert said the
share of open spaces in the city should be increased in order to
make them sustained breathing spaces.
RANKINGS
Greater Mumbai Delhi Bangalore Hyderabad Kolkata Chennai Panaji
Chandigarh Pune Ahmedabad RUNNING LATE
Eastern freeway from Colaba to Anik, Anik to Panjarpol and from
Panjarpol to Mankhurd Elevated Sahar road project Mumbai trans-harbour
link between Nhava and Sewri Worli to Nariman Point sea link via
Haji Ali and Malabar Hill
First 3 metro lines — Versova to Ghatkopar via Andheri, Charkop to
Mankhurd via Bandra, Colaba to Airport via Bandra and BKC
Monorail from Jacob Circle to Chembur via Wadala
|
