With the end of the administrator’s rule, Mumbai’s newly elected representatives have resumed control over the city’s development agenda, including major infrastructure and greening initiatives. In an interaction, Karen Chapple, director of the School of Cities at the University of Toronto and Professor Emerita at the University of California, Berkeley, shared her views on redevelopment, transit planning and sustainable growth.
Speaking about the Dharavi redevelopment, Chapple cautioned against disrupting established communities and economic systems. She noted that planners often make the mistake of displacing existing residents in the hope of raising property values. Dharavi, home to nearly a million people, is also a thriving industrial hub for garments and leather goods. Redevelopment plans must therefore preserve its intricate supply chains and involve the community to avoid economic disruption.
On transit-oriented development (TOD), Chapple highlighted global examples such as Tokyo and Hong Kong, where authorities acquired land around transit stations to ensure integrated housing and amenities. She emphasised land value capture as a tool to reinvest gains from rising property prices into affordable housing and public infrastructure. In Mumbai, she added, improving the pedestrian “last mile” is crucial, especially since over half the population walks daily despite poor walkability.
Addressing pedestrianisation, Chapple cited Barcelona and New York City as examples of cities that have reclaimed streets for people. “Wouldn’t it be something to have large areas of Mumbai pedestrianised? Especially in pockets of South Mumbai, I think large areas could be pedestrianised, which would even help air quality tremendously.”
On environmental sustainability, she stressed stronger regulations mandating tree replacement and green infrastructure. If funding is a challenge, she suggested higher taxes on the wealthy, pointing to California as a model where affluent residents contribute to maintaining urban quality and environmental standards.
Source: The Indian Express
