“The people of Mumbai must contribute to its development plan,” said Sitaram Shelar, programme director of YUVA. He was speaking on Mumbai’s proposed Development Plan 2034 at a talk on urban planning as part of the Kala Ghoda Festival on Tuesday.
Mr. Shelar said State planners must consider inputs of all groups: BDD chawl residents, slum dwellers, street hawkers, shop vendors, and pavement dwellers. Mumbaikars are not often seen as part of the planning process; they must be a vital part of it.
The People’s Vision for Mumbai 2034 has been submitted to the BMC by YUVA along with over 40 other non-profits and citizens’ groups in the city. Mr. Shelar said, “The essence of this plan is that the city’s people are capable of thinking for themselves.” The document makes recommendations under various development categories including housing, health, education, transport and waste management.
Prasad Shetty, architect and urban management scholar, said the plan must focus on inclusivity. “We are moving toward a time of hardening boundaries, between slums and gated communities,” he said.
“This kind of hardening is going to increase in the next two decades, with changing economic and environmental climates. We already see erratic weather patterns. Mumbai is also losing business centres to other Indian cities. We also see a stagnation in population growth. In two decades we will have an aging population: an elderly city with no clear economy, and stratified social groups. How do we prepare for a city like this?”
