Mumbai’s rapid transformation is being shaped more by commercial interests than by long-term urban planning, according to architect, urbanist and educator Rahul Mehrotra. While acknowledging the city’s infrastructure expansion, he argues that development choices must place people, public spaces, and sustainability at the centre of planning.
Speaking about Mumbai’s changing urban landscape, Mehrotra said large-scale infrastructure projects, including the Coastal Road, metro corridors and new road networks, have improved connectivity for some residents but have also raised concerns over environmental trade-offs and equitable access.
He noted that many of the city’s recent infrastructure projects primarily benefit private vehicle users, while the majority of Mumbai’s population depends on public transport. “If you look at this more objectively, I think the bigger, not moral, question is the trade-offs that we have chosen, which means how many people are going to benefit from this infrastructure. In Mumbai, it’s going to be only 10 or 12% of people who use or own a private car.”
Mehrotra suggested that similar investments in suburban rail infrastructure, passenger amenities and last-mile connectivity could have served a much larger section of commuters.
He also expressed concern over Mumbai’s increasing focus on redevelopment without broader metropolitan planning. According to him, vertical growth alone cannot solve the city’s long-term challenges unless it is supported by balanced planning that integrates housing, livelihoods, and mobility.
Commenting on the city’s planning priorities, Mehrotra said, “The city is in a purposeless hurry! For many, it’s a golden goose, and everyone is trying to extract as many eggs as soon as they can. The nexus between politicians and developers is now evidently blatant. So planning and infrastructure choice are made to exploit land values. And therefore, in my mind, it’s only greed that is driving the city.”
He further added, “Our leadership and the elite seem to have lost the aspiration for making a good society and are focused on the good life.”
Referring to Mumbai’s newly introduced pedestrian district in Kala Ghoda, Mehrotra welcomed the concept but said pedestrianisation should be implemented as part of a comprehensive urban strategy. He stressed that measures such as improved parking management, public transport connectivity and a network of pedestrian-friendly streets are essential for such initiatives to succeed.
Looking ahead, Mehrotra said Mumbai’s future should be guided by a metropolitan vision that ensures affordable housing, efficient public transport and dignified living conditions for all residents rather than focusing solely on infrastructure-led growth.
Source: Hindustan Times
