Mumbai has ranked first among mega cities in the Ease of Living Index 2018. In the overall ranking, the city has come third among 111 cities, only behind Pune and Navi Mumbai.
The index, an initiative of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, ranks cities on a 100-point scale across 78 indicators under four heads: institutional, social, economic and physical. Physical is given the most weightage (45%), followed by social (25%), institutional (25%), while economic has the least weightage (5%).
The ministry, for the first time, conducted a survey to gauge ‘livability’ of each city. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) too participated for the first time, representing Mumbai.
“We compiled data from various agencies. This ranking is based on the city’s existing infrastructure and shows us areas where we need improvement. We will certainly improve and participate next year,” Vijay Singhal, additional municipal commissioner, BMC, said.
Mumbai has done better in terms of public open spaces and mixed land use and compactness, securing the top slot on both fronts. But, it has come third in assured water supply. Under the category of physical (infrastructure), the city has secured the first position. Together, these have brought the city third rank while Navi Mumbai has done much better on several fronts, bagging the second position. The city has also come second in identity and culture and sixth in housing and inclusiveness.
Shashi Bala, head of BMC’s business development cell, who was overlooking the submission process, said they had to submit an online application consisting of 570 questions by April 30.
“We then submitted all the physical evidence for our claims. In May, a Central team came to Mumbai and tested water quality and noise pollution through sampling. They inspected 350 locations,” she said.
Hard to believe
However, Mumbaikars have expressed surprise at these rankings.
Milind Mhaske, project director, Praja Foundation, said the city’s governance has been a cause for concern, and he is not surprised it ranks 23rd on that front. But that it has come 63rd on the economy and employment front is hard to believe. “The Centre should release the parameters used in the exercise, otherwise, it will lead to urban local bodies patting themselves on the back.”
Godfrey Pimenta, chairman, Watchdog Foundation, was shocked at the physical infrastructure ranking. “This year, there are thousands of potholes and the BMC has not been able to address them despite the coldmix technology. We face waterlogging as well. Were all these considered?”
When asked about noise pollution, activist Sumaira Abdulali said, “Recently, NEERI submitted a report in the High Court to prove that Mumbai has unacceptable levels of noise pollution. And this does not even include Metro work and festivals. So, if Mumbai ranks 54th on that front, I am not surprised.”
Health experts said it is odd that Mumbai has come 23rd in healthcare while Pune, Vijaywada, Jabalpur and Tirupati have performed better.
Health activist Dr. Abhijit More of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan said one of the major problems is the primary health care services are not strong due to which the main tertiary care hospitals are overloaded. “We may have infrastructure but accessibility and quality has to increase,” Dr. More said.
RTI activist Deepak Singh from Kharghar said the governance of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is one of the best. “There are issues with Sion-Panvel road, and the PWD has to be blamed for that. But in terms of affordability, Navi Mumbai has all type of facilities,” Mr. Singh said.
“I have been living for the last 38 years and everything here is much better than what most other cities offer. Navi Mumbai is much affordable than Mumbai in terms of housing. The city has a wonderful combination of fast and peaceful life,” Manohar Shroff, vice president, Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry, Navi Mumbai unit, said.
( With inputs from Jyoti Shelar, Jyotsna Krishnamoorthy, Shivani Dubey, Raina Assaina )
