Lot of debate is generated on the Port Land of Mumbai and water front development. To those who are interested in the subject, I am putting up summary and conclusions of my research paper written with Dr. Hema Dandekar titled Colonial to Global Port City: Dilemma of Transition in Mumbai Those who wish to read full paper can send me request on email. Summary and Conclusions This paper has described how Mumbai port and city were conceived of, and grew, together, synergistically helping each other to strengthen, expand and exploit the potential of this premier geographical location for a port. They took advantage of the hinterland and distant land resources, people and culture during the British colonial era which spanned two centuries. It has traced how Mumbai port and the city also grew rapidly during the post independence period, expanding and diversifying on its initial industrial base of textile production for another five decades. This was a period in which the city was restructured to meet a national, inward looking agenda of nation building with focus on social development with public sector leadership. The post-independence period came to an end, rather abruptly, when the national economy took a turn with a neo liberal agenda of privatization, liberalization and globalization in 1990s, when both Mumbai port and the city were showing signs of fatigue, decay and administrative and political paralysis. With liberalization in the national and global economy came new challenges for the port and the city from rapidly evolving technologies, declining industries, a growing service sector, over burdened infrastructure, and increased speed and competition demanding efficiency. Reforms in legal and organizational structures to meet this changed reality were developed to strengthen the public sector. These started putting pressure for reforms on MbPT as well as the state and city governance structure. The need for transformation for both the city and the port was clearly evident. A new vision for revitalizing Mumbai city was first suggested by Bombay First, a private organization of people from industry, trade and commerce and including representation of the State government. Reflecting on this plan the State of Maharashtra realized the need for an expanded vision for the Mumbai Metropolitan region and the city center and port. A recognition of the need for regional thinking emerged from the process. New opportunities for exploration of options came with the neo liberal economy. New solutions to old problems such as slums, inefficient land use, outdated technology, grossly inadequate infrastructure were demanded and a number of sophisticated, alternative planning strategies, technical, legal and organizational solutions emerged. New infrastructure augmentation plans got underway. Many old infrastructure projects that were neglected or shelved, such as the Mumbai Trans Harbor Link (MTHL), have been resurrected. This important link, suggested by planners in 1965 (Correa et.al: 1966) has a great potential to change the urban form and regional geography. This important project received wide support from the private sector as well as local and national government as it offers the revolutionary potential to connect two important ports across the harbor. Given that JNPT is planning to expand its commercial operations substantially, the railway is also creating a new link to connect it with the national capital of New Delhi to the North along with a new Industrial townships. The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) with a high speed rail link is one of the most ambitious project that has been supported by various state governments. A similar link is also being planned to connect JNPT to Bangalore. This offers opportunities for MbPT to transform by leveraging its land estate along the eastern water front of Mumbai city. Plans are also under way to share surplus land resources with Mumbai city, which needs developable land for new economy businesses, social and affordable housing and recreation infrastructure for its citizens. MbPT can, at the same time, keep its profitable business in the petroleum sector. Clearly the transformations in Mumbai port, city and region are driven largely by the neo liberal agenda. However, the process of privatization, liberalization and globalization that can be observed is cautious, gradual, and incremental. Though a comprehensive regional plan has been drawn to guide future development it is not rigid and basically provides a general-plan-like guidance for detailed area plans (specific plans) for creating new communities or for restructuring old settled areas with new catalytic interventions and infusions. To enable this transformation a partnering with the private sector as well as international capital, financial agencies and governments is now well accepted. Partnering is seen as essential to harness the energy and innovations of the private sector. However the local, state and central governments are cooperating with such partnerships for win-win situation for all the partners and stakeholders. The process is slow but inclusive, democratic and persuasive. Although at times it appears ad- hoc it is however quite similar to the process of transformation that can be observed in many other democratic countries such as Brazil, Spain, USA and some European countries such as the Netherlands. As of now, partnership of MbPT, Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the state government represented by MMRDA is still weak, tentative and peace-meal, focused and depending on specific projects. The partnership could also strengthen with the ongoing process of the formation of the Metropolitan Planning Committee (MPC), and an Urban Mumbai Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMMTA). A similar process was observed in the case of Greater London Authority in UK. As of now one can observe that the transformation process has a great potential to transform the Mumbai region, regenerate it and secure it for future generations as in the historical past.
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 07:52:17 +0000