SEA LINKS, TRAINS, SKYBUS; ALTERNATIVES IN TRANSPORT
Inquiry report on the sea link project which was released at a
public
meeting on Friday, the tribunal unequivocally condemned the
project
on several counts, including for violating environmental laws and
creating
a negative social and environmental impact...
"Tribunal's Verdict Is
Out: Worli-Bandra Sea Link
Project Unviable", The Times of India,
Mumbai,
08 August 2001, [ E31b], /eldoc/urban_issues/uu1_M036.html
"Transport In Mumbai - Going Nowhere?", Bombay First, Mumbai, 01 January 1998, [C.J32], /eldoc/urban_issues/uu1_M038.html
Darryl D'Monte, "Roads to Nowhere", Bombay First, Mumbai, 01 June 1999, [C.J32], /eldoc/urban_issues/uu1_M039.html
"Moving Forward To Better Urban Transport",The Sustran Network, Indonesia, [C.J32], /eldoc/urban_issues/uu1_M040.html
There has been heavy investment in a plethora of roadways and
a near-total
neglect of public transport in a metropolis where the overwhelming
majority
rely on this mode to commure to work...
While successive state governments have been guilty of neglecting
Mumbai's
transport problems, it was the crstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government which
drastically altered the course. By initiating a range of road schemes,
it unequivocally opted for private, motorised transport in preference
to
public transport. This may be said to fall in line with the economic
liberalisation
moves encouraged by successive national governments, with the state
gradually
withdrawing from area after area of public life.
Darryl D'Monte,'
Mumbai's Urban Transport Infrastructure:
The Missing Links', Globalisation & Urban
Environment, 16 February
2001. [C.J32.071101].
The wealth of Mumbai is not events spread. For while the
average per
capita income is three times higher thatn that of the state of which it
is the capital. Maharashtra one quarter of its residents live below the
poverty line and half live in low-income areas designated by the
government
as 'slums' and informal settlements. These slum areas are located on
land
owned by the central and state governments the municipal corporation
and
private individuals and land which belongs to the airport an theory the
port authorities and the railways. It is the settlements located in the
last three locations that have a direct impact on the city's transport
system, particularly in the case of the railways.
Sheela Patel & Kalpana Sharma, "One
David and
Three Goliaths: Avoiding Anti-Poor Solutions to Mumbai's Transport
Problems",
Environment and Urbanization, London, October 1998.[C.011098].
Grid Locked London started charging vehicles pound 5 (Rs. 383)
for every
entry into the core city this week in a desperate effort to lift
worsening
congestion.
Rajshri Mehta, "Are You
Ready to Pay A Congestion
Tax?", The Indian Express, Mumbai, 19
February
2003. [C.J32.190203IE].
The best way to avoid the problems of sprawl is to develop low
income
housing designed and located on high capacity public transport routes,
so they have easy access. Good transport must be built into the
development
process. The housing sector must be related to the public transport
system.
Vaishnavi C. Sekhar, "Central
Parts of City Should
Be Pedestrianised", The Times of India,
Mumbai,
21 October 2002.[C.J32.211002TOI].
"Bijlee will hit the 48,000 cabbies badly," says A. L. Quadros
of the
Bombay Taximen's Union. "If the government had plans to introduce a
nine-seater
why did they give out so many taxi permits?"
Anil Singh, "Electric
Vans Denied A Fare Deal",
The Times of India, Mumbai, 07 June 2002. [C.J32.070602TOI].
The Sky Bus has a capacity of carrying 15,000 person per hour
per direction
and according to KRCL, "is a technology break-through providing a total
solution to the urban transport problem."
Our Correspondent, "Urban
Department Clears Sky
Bus Metro Project', Committee to Submit Report on Proposed Route,
Viability
in 3 Months", The Asian Age, Mumbai, 13 April 2001,
[C.J32.130401AA].
Express News Service, "Mumbai to Get India's First Skytrain', High Density Andheri-Ghatkopar Stretch Identified As Prelude to Further Use in City", The Indian Express,Mumbai, 22 February 2003. [C.J32.220203IE].
Express News Service, "Govt Treads Cautiously on Skybus", The Indian Express, Mumbai, 12 August 2001. [C.J32.120801IE].
Girish Kuber, 'PM Clears KRC's Rs. 25,000-cr Sky Bus Project for 8 Cities', Plan To Cover Metros; Pune, Ahmedabad, B'lore, Hyderabad Too", The Economic Times, Mumbai, 10 August 2001. [C.J32.100801ET].
The Times of India News Service, "KRC to Launch 'Sky Bus Metro' System in Mumbai and Pune", The Times of India, Mumbai, 12 July 2001. [C.J32.120701TOI].
"State to Fund KRC Skybus Project on Trial Basis", The Economic Times, Mumbai, 15 April 2001. [C.J32.150401ET].
KRC has proposed an equity-based community system, a strategy
that has
worked for the Konkan railway line where the company visited villages,
explaining the concept and winning acceptance. The mass equity base
will
provide the safety equivalent to a government project, explains
Rajaram.
Air-conditioned travel in a sky-bus should cost 20-50 paise per km,
compared
to Rs. 6 by train. anybody who buys 100 shares of Rs. 150 each will get
two peak journey and unlimited off-peak journeys a day for his
lifetime.
Even cabbies who lose their business with the skybus will be allowed to
invest and encash the free journeys in km cards. They could also sell
these
to floating commuters through kiosks that KRC: will set up and earn up
to Rs. 300 per day. The Maharashtra government has offered Rs. 25 crore
and the right-of-way to start work.
Charubala Annuncio, 'Suspended
Animation', A Revolutionary
Rapid Transport System Promises to Change
the Face of City Commuting, Outlook, New Delhi, 03
September 2001.[C.J32.030901OUT].
Work on the sealink has also drawn numerous protests from the
fishing
community, which resides along the Mahim-Worli coast. The anglers
allege
that excess land is being reclaimed besides citing a threat to their
livelihood...
Environmentalists for their part, say the project will choke to death
the mangroves growing in the mouth of the Mahim creek. They also say
the
narrowing of the Mahim creek will result in a rise in the water level
at
Dadar.
Anuradha Nagaraj, 'MSRDC
Reclaims 22 Hectares Extra',
Bandra-Worli Sealink: Environment Ministry says CRZ has Been Breached,
MSRDC says it is Not Responsible", The Indian
Express, Mumbai,
13 April 2000.[C.E31b.130400IE].
The memorandum stated that at present, reclamation work at
Mahim is
in full swing, and has already closed the mouth of Mahim Creek which
has
already started showing adverse effects. Dadar chowpaty has already
vanished
under water. The possibility of damage to the buildings near the sea
face
at Worli, Prabhadevi, Dadar, Shivaji Park, Mahim and Bandra has created
fear amongst the residents.
Staff Reporter, "Bandra-Worli
Seaway is an Environmental
Nightmare", The Times of India, Mumbai, 07
January 2000. [C.E31b.070100TOI].
Express News Service, "Effects Of Sealink:Experts Tell Residents All", The Indian Express, Mumbai, 05 September 2000. [C.E31b.050900IE].
The Worli fishing community is already facing a problem with
respect
to accessibility. The Mahim Bay on the north side of the village has in
the last few years undergone an adverse ecological change, The whole
bay
near Worli is under heavy sedimentation of sludge that has been
deposited
due to an inactive inter-tidal zone.
John Manjali, 'Worli
Fishermen in Troubled Waters',
Sealink Project Threatens Age-Old Occupation",
The Asian Age, Mumbai, 02 January 2001.[C.E31b.020101AA].
According to Mr. Girish Raut of the Shivaji Park Dakshata
Committee,
the sealink project is a "fancy scheme" using public money for the
benefit
of a very few percentage of the population. "Moreover, the Bandra-Worli
Sealink Project with an estimated cost of Rs. 715 crore has also
destroyed
livelihood of many hundreds of fishermen who are basically into shallow
fishing. It is ironical that the government claims there are no project
affected people who need compensation."
John Manjali, 'State
Did Not Assess Ecological
Impact", The Asian Age, Mumbai, 20 February
2001.
[C.E31b.200201AA].
Our Regional Bureau, 'Western Sealink Project Gets Environmental Nod', CRZ Clearance Accorded to 9394 Plots of Land", Business Standard, Kolkatta, 13 February 2003. [C.J32.130203BSB].
Captain Jha said the entire service will be run on a
market-driven approach
and that the private contractors will have the liberty to fix the
ticket
price for the hour-long voyage.
Nitin Yeshwantrao, "Vilasrao
Okays Commuter Ferry
System for City Coast", The Times of India, Mumbai, 06
October 2001.
[C.J32.061001TOI].
However, with rail and public road transport accounting for 80
per cent
of the city's traffic, the proposed scheme has just the remaining 20
per
cent in mind. They are vehicle owners or first-class passengers and
this
translates to 30,000-40,000 passengers - nearly two per cent of the two
million commuters travelling from Borivali to Nariman Point every day.
Rajshri Mehta, 'On The
Waterfront', Skyrail or
Skybus? As the Debate on the Mode to Decongest
Roads Rages", The Indian Express, Mumbai, 04
October 2002. [C.J32.041002IE].
Our Correspondent, 'First AC/DC Train Flagged Off At Churchgate', Will Initially Ply Till Virar, New Local Will Save Time, Energy", The Asian Age, Mumbai, 15 January 2001. [C.J32.150101AA].
Rajshri Mehta, "NEWSLINE
SPECIAL: Mumbai, here’s
the plan for your metro", Indian Express, Bombay,
29 Sept 03,
[C.J32.],
/eldoc/j32_/29sep03ie1.html http://cities.expressindia.com/archivefullstory.php?newsid=64467&creation_date=2003-09-29
Abs: FLYOVERS,
MUTP, BEST
New flyovers, elevated roads, subways and more. It could ease
your commute.
Just hope they can round up the money.
Rajshri Mehta, "Rs.
2,000-cr Plan to Transform
City Unveiled", The Indian Express, Mumbai, 26
April 2003, [C.J32],
eldoc/urban_issues/uu1_M035.html
http://cities.expressindia.com/archivefullstory.php?newsid=50248&creation_date=2003-04-26
Traffic department statistics reveal that instances of fatal
accidents
in the city have gone up with the increase in number of flyovers.
Viju B.,"Flyover
Fatale", Mid-Day, Mumbai,
03 June 2001, [ C.
J32], /eldoc/urban_issues/uu1_M037.html
Original
URL http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2001/june/11490.htm
When it rains in Mumbai, for the motorist, taxi driver and
other road
warriors, it truly pours. Potholes, pebbles and puddles appear where
roads
once were, making the daily commute in the commercial capital more like
a slow bump and grind.
Vaishnavi Sekhar, "Mumbai's
Roads Offer Motorists
a Pothole to Ride", The Times of India,
Mumbai,
27 August 2001. [C.J32.270801TOI].
The source of this fund, according to him, could come from a
road cess
on fuel, vehicle licence fees and toll charges...
An enhanced property tax surcharge on property transactions surcharge
on sales tax on tyres, tubes and motor parts and levy of upto two per
cent
of wage bill of industrial and commercial establishments employing more
than 50 people could also be considered for Mumbai's transport fund.
Nauzer Bharucha, "Expert
Says Special Fund is Needed
to Improve City's Transport System",The Times of
India, Mumbai,
05 February 2003. [C.J32.050203TOI].
MMRDA officials told TNN that they were examining a proposal
to reserve
lanes for buses on some high-density corridors running through the
city.
Vaishnavi C. Sekhar, "Dedicated
Lanes for Buses
on Main Roads Suggested", The Times of India,
Mumbai, 12 March
2003. [C.J32.120303TOI].
Perched on a 1056 sq mt sea-facing plot adjacent to Mafatlal
Garden,
the municipality's maiden venture in mechanised parking will
considerably
ease the traffic chaos in the up-market shopping area infamous for its
maddening all-day rush to lodge one's car.
Anshika Misra, "Multi-Level
Car Park to Steer Mumbai
Out of Traffic Jams", The Times of India, Mumbai,
02 March 2003.
[C.J32.020303TOI].
The problems facing the common pedestrian have become in
surmountable,
as he struggles over under and around roadworks, open holes filthy
debris,
hawkers, and parked vehicles..
The MMRDA counters that four schemes exist to deal with the
acknowledged
pedestrian problems. The Pedestrian Grade Separation Scheme, creating
thirty
new subways, all of which will have satisfactory ventilation and
disabled
access, after continued pressure from the CGSL, SATIS, or Station Area
Traffic improvement Scheme which proposes to clear six stations. A
traffic
management and pedestrian safety programme, an as yet unspectfied plan
to improve footpaths. And road-over-rail bridges to eliminate the last
of the level crossings.
Venetia Ansell, "MUTP
Walks Over Pedestrians' Rights",
The Times of India, Mumbai, 24 January 2003. [C.J32.240103TOI].
Vaishnavi C. Sekhar, "MUTP Project Won't Remove Congestion, Only Reduce It", The Times of India, Mumbai, 30 July 2002. [C.J32.300702TOI].
The execution of the SCLR project is expected to cost Rs. 125
crore.
The project would displace about 3,700 persons residing in its route,
with
the Maharashtra Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA)
disbursing
Rs. 50 crore for their rehabilitation.
Vidya, "City To Get Its
First Two-Level Flyover",
The Indian Express, Mumbai, 13 July 2002. [C.J32.130702IE].
Executive director of MSRDC R.K. Jha said the technical and
financial
feasibility studies of the project would take another year. The project
is estimated to cost Rs. 125 - Rs. 150 crore and it would take two
years
to complete...
He added tht the Peddar Road viaduct would still be required even after
the sea link between Haji Ali and Nariman Point was completed. The
union
environment and forest ministry has still to give the clerance for the
14-km link over the sea between these two points. The first phase,
between
Bandra and Worli, will be completed by April 2004.
Times News Network, "MSRDC
Projects Vision of Future
For Peddar Road", The Times of India, Mumbai, 06
April 2002. [C.J32.060402TOI].
The Pedder Road project should be more accurately called a
viaduct because
it is over a very long stretch. A flyover a mainly over a junction.
this
viaduct is not desirable on many counts. One, it will only shift
congestion
from one point to another...
The project would also be an environmental disaster. Emissions on the
road below would be trapped because of the construction above and
particularly
because of the high-rise buildings on both sides.
Vidyadhar Date, "In The
Long Run, Fancy Flyover
Projects Do Not Benefit Even Motorists, Says Transport Expert",
The Times of India, Mumbai, 27 March 2002. [C.J32.270302TOI].
We suggested underground pedestrian crossings at Villa Theresa
school,
Cadbury House and the junction of Altamount, Carmichael and Pedder
roads.
Though the plan was prepered by experts, it was rejected by the traffic
department on the ground of it posing 'possible danger to VIP
security'.
Smita Deshmukh, "Why
Pedder Road Really Needs A
Flyover' Are Pedder Road Residents Stalling
The Project at the Cost of Thousands of Motorists? ", The
Times
of India, Mumbai, 13 March 2002. [C.J32.130302TOI].
Anshika Misra, "Pedder Road Residents Propose Traffic Restraint to Avoid Flyover", The Times of India, Mumbai, 04 October 2001. [C.J32.041001TOI].
Most cities have adopted a series of solutions such as
expanding roads,
construction of flyovers, and restriction on slowmoving vehicles.
However,
the international experience suggests that such measures encourage the
use of private cars, increasing the pressure on city resources and do
not
lead to intended mobility benefits...
The majority of commuters in Indian cities rely on non-motorised modes
and public transport modes, Therefore, especially at a time when car
ownership
is increasing, infrastructure planning and investments in public
transport
systems are required to provide a comfortable and convenient option to
city residents that can compete with the comforts provided by a private
car.
Dr. Geetam Tiwari, "Buzz
About Buses",
The Times of India, Mumbai, 23 February 2002. [C.J32.230202TOI].
It's packed with people, inundated with chemical waste and
choc-a-bloc
with every other conceivable vestige of humanity. Yet, life for the 8
lakh
people who populate Dharavi bustles along despite the absence of one of
Mumbai's trademarks -- the BEST bus -- in Asia's largest slum. Coupled
with the near absence of autorickshaws, the residents here have
therefore
had to tiptoe their way around this inconvenience for decades.
Vidya, "3,430 Buses in
City But Not Even One in
Dharavi", The India Express, Mumbai, 18
August
2001. [C.J32.180801IE].
"The construction of malls will also lead to higher pollution
levels
as, instead of disbursing the traffic they will now be attrating more."
Express News Service, "Shopping
Malls Under Kalina
Flyover Too", The Indian Express, Mumbai,
21 July 2001. [C.J32.210701IE].
In a memorandum, the delegation also demanded rehabilitation
protection
to all living in slums that have come up on the Central Government
lands
in Mumbai before January 1, 1995. An assurance of alternate housing or
land has already been given by the state government to the squatters on
state lands. About 30 lakh people are living in slums in Mumbai on the
lands belonging to the defence, railways, forest department and Mumbai
Port Trust.
The Times of India News Service, "Central
Government
Will Help Speed Up MUTP", The Times of India,
Mumbai, 10 July 2001.
[C.J32.100701].
Another reason for the worsening of air quality, he adds, is
that these
fly-overs tend to attract traffic from neighbouring competing roads as
well; giving rise to traffic congestion and higher levels of
pollution...
"Mr. Patankar points out that these viaducts fail to serve the very
purpose they are built for, i.e. to enable faster movement of traffic.
"Traffic cannot be flushed out faster by building these viaducts. Only
a marginal increase has been noted in the speed of cars using
viaducts,"
he says...
"Several studies have shown that the only solution to the impending
traffic problem in the city is to strengthen public transport and
introduce
demand management measures to discourage shift from public transport to
private vehicles," says Mr. Patankar. "Then what purpose will these
viaducts
built for private cars, which benefits only 16 per cent of the total
travel
demand serve?" he adds.
Anshika Misra, "Haji
Ali-Wilson College Flyovers
Will Worsen Air Quality: TCS Study", The Times of
India, Mumbai,
28 May 2001. [C.J32.280501TOI].
The study weas triggered by complaints of respiratory health
problems
among residents in the last six months. "Many people had been
complaining
of colds and coughs that wouldn't go away," says Rakesh Kumar the head
of NEERI, Mumbai. Particulate matter or coarse particles accumulate in
the respiratory system and aggravate illnesses like asthma. In
addition,
researchers found that the samples of suspended particulate matter also
contained high levels of cement. "This is due to the fact that during
the
construction, cement concrete, air casting of fillers, cement slurry
spill
over the road," says Mr. Kumar.
Vaishnavi C. Sekhar, "Work
At Worli Flyover Is
Affecting Health of Residents, Says NEERI", The
Times of India,
Mumbai, 23 May 2001. [C.J32.230501TOI].
Ramesh Kundanmal, a steering committee member and in-charge of
the Strategy
and Planning Department of the association, has proposed that a flyover
be constructed starting from Castrophine Company (between Annie Besant
Road and Worli) and Sai and Sanghi petrol pump. With its pillars
resting
on the Lovegrove drainage channel, it could proceed towards Mahalaxmi
station.
Here onwards the flyover would run above the railway lines and end at
Churchgate
where traffic would be allowed to fan out through three octopus arms;
one
directed towards Nariman Point, the other towards Colaba and another
going
towards Ballard Pier.
Express News Service, "Pedder
Road Plans to Move
Headache to Churchgate", The Indian Express,
Mumbai, 04 May 2001. [C.J32.040501IE].
"HC Urged to Allow Commercial Use of Space Below Andheri Flyover", The Times of India, Mumbai, 20 January 2001. [C.J33.200101TOI].
With the rumble under the slew of flyovers being built in the
city disturting
residents and motorists alike the focus has now shifted to the
1.5-km-long
road brisge at Dadar. The only flyover to be built by the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) and inaugurated in July last year, the
structure
appears to be turning into among other things, a shelter for the
homeless,
an ad-hoc parking facility and a public unnal. Residents of the
locality
say that the attendent problems this brings could become a bane and are
threatening to defeat the very purpose the flyover is meant to serve.
Vidya, "Under The Over
There's Utter Chaos, Say
Dadar Residents", The Indian Express, Mumbai,
25 August 2000, [C.J33.250800IE].
The (MUTP) project, estimated to cost about Rs. 4,554 crores,
has several
components: (i) systems improvement and network expansion of railways,
(ii) traffic management, and (iii) road infrastructure improvement. An
interesting feature of this project is the rehabilitation and
resettlement
of project-affected persons...
The proponents of the project maintain that the capital, as also
depreciation
and interest, can be recovered effectively within a reasonable time
span
of less thatn three yers given the vibrancy of demand for such
transport
in cities like Mumbai The Konkan Railway Corporation is going to be the
major body responsible for the implementation of the project with
financing
made through a combination of debt and equity. The project will be
based
on build, own and operate method of promoting public-private
partnerships.
"MUTP: A Step Toward
Improvement of Mumbai's Transport",
Bombay First, Mumbai, April-May
2002. [C.J06.010402].
Hemalata C. Dandekar & Sulakshana Mahajan, 'MSRDC and Mumbai-Pune Expressway', A Sustainable Model for Privatising Construction of Physical Infrastructure?" Economic and Political Weekly, Mumbai, 17 February 2001. P.549-559. [J.17FEB01EPW].
Saumya Roy, "Bridge
Sessions", Outlook,
New Delhi, 13 Oct 2003, [C.J32.], /eldoc/j32_/13oct03out1.htm
http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20031013&fname=Traffic+%28F%29&sid=1
Chandrachur Ghose, "The
anatomy of congestion",
Down To Earth, New Delhi, 15 May, 2003, [C.J32.], /eldoc/j32_/15may03dte5.html
http://www.downtoearth.org.in/cover.asp?foldername=20030515&filename=Anal&sid=1&sec_id=7
Rajshri Mehta,"Rs 2,000-cr plan to transform city unveiled", Indian Express, Bombay, 26 Apr. 2003, [C.J32], /eldoc/j32_/26apr03ie1.html http://cities.expressindia.com/archivefullstory.php?newsid=50248&creation_date=2003-04-26
Viju B,"Flyover
fatale: Accidents on the rise",Mid-Day,
03 June 2001, [C.J32.], /eldoc/j32_/03jun01mid1.html
http://www.mid-day.com/news/city/2001/june/11490.htm
Dr. S. Sriraman, "Major
Modes of Transport in Mumbai
: Issues and Options", [C.J32.], /eldoc/j32_/majormodes.htm
http://www.bombayfirst.org/citymag/vol2no1/majormodes.htm
"Mumbai Urban
Transport Project", [C.J32.],
/eldoc/j32_/MUTP-I.htm
http://www.worldbank.org.in/sar/sa.nsf/0/9f41f5ee60ae9d7185256ba00044f9fe?OpenDocument
.
Shilpa Puri, "Mumbai
Urban Transport Project-II",
[C.J32.], /eldoc/j32_/MUTP-II.htm
http://www.projectsmonitor.com/detailnews.asp?newsid=2810
Darryl D'Monte, "Driving
to nowhere", [C.J32.],
/eldoc/j32_/urb_trpt.htm
http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo0108/01080140.htm
Bina C. Balakrishnan, "Urban Transportation in Mumbai - The Need for an Integrated Hierarchy of MassTransportation Systems", [C..J32.],/eldoc/j32_/ut.htm http://www.bombayfirst.org/citymag/vol2no1/urban.htm
M. Q. Dalvi, "Some
Reflections on Transport Problems
in Mumbai", [C.J32.], /eldoc/j32_/tran_prbl.htm
http://www.bombayfirst.org/citymag/vol2no1/reflections.htm
The Maharashtra government has to spend only Rs 1,500 crore a
year over
the next 10 years to transform Mumbai into a world class city
by
2013...
Renni Abraham , "Rs
1500 crore a year for Mumbai
makeover", 06
Nov 2003, [C.J06.], /docsweb/urban-issues/mckinsey-ud.html
http://www.newsispat.com/September03/26th/bs/rs%201500.htm