By Editors
On October 19, 2024, experts discussed Mumbai voters’ concerns about the big ticket infrastructure upgradation in the country’s financial capital, and their potential impact on the state elections.
The speakers were urban conservationist Shweta Wagh, senior journalist Sahil Joshi and citizen activist Zoru Bhatena. The discussion was moderated by independent journalist Hepzi Antony.
Shweta Wagh spoke on the struggles of the fishing community whose livelihoods were directly threatened by the upcoming Coastal Road. Their concerns were ignored by the State thanks to its prioritising infrastructure projects aimed at the needs of the rich, over the livelihoods of the poor.
Mumbai’s developmental model focused on highly revenue-driven mega projects to ensure maximum spendings rather than on resolving public commuting solutions, said Zoru Bhathena, noting that the government deliberately chose costly projects that created more problems than help citizens.
Saahil Joshi suggested that Mumbai had lost its way starting from the 1990s when land prices struck gold. Most politicians were either linked to developers or developers themselves.
