Speak up Mumbai: Potholes, traffic snarls, slums... still 3rd most liveable city?

A fortnight ago, Mumbai was ranked third in the central government's "Ease of Living Index". The Ease of Living Index is an initiative to help cities assess their livability vis-à-vis global and national benchmarks and encourage cities to move towards an 'outcome-based' approach to urban planning and management. 

Mumbai was ranked third among cities with over four million population based on four broad parameters — physical, social, economic and institutional. These were further expanded into 15 core parameters like transportation and mobility, governance, social infrastructure, power supply, health, employment, education, and safety and security.

As per the BMC administration, the city ranked first in infrastructure, and sixth in the social parameter. Infrastructure has been considered based on roads, housing, public open spaces and such while social parameters depended on health, education and safety and security.

Ironically, the ranking has left many citizens shocked. If Mumbai the third most liveable city in India, how bad are others, they wonder.

VOICES

There are thousands of reasons for me to say no. The very basic infrastructure of Mumbai is weak, pollution levels are high, trains are overcrowded. Traffic congestion has made the city a shabby place to live in. The city is unfit for senior citizens. It is hard to fulfill the very basic needs of roti, kapada and makaan. Life of a person is of no value as in the time of crises situation, due to heavy traffic, the ambulances do not make it on time.
— Advocate Chaula Solanki, Kandivali

Mumbai does not deserve a place in the list of first 10 liveable cities, forget the third. The last decade has seen Mumbai go to the dogs. Horrible roads, encroachment of every possible public space and footpaths, crumbling railway bridges, land usurped by SGNP, dirty beaches, plastic pollution, bad sanitation and pot hole riddled roads — this city is a concrete jungle with the richest yet most inefficient Municipal Corporation.
— Anand Shirali, Andheri

In my opinion, Mumbai deserves to be on the list primarily because, in the past few decades, there's been a massive shift in the lifestyle preferences of people. Their ideologies have progressed to such an extent that they've now realised that conventionalism is the death of a civilized society. Openness in culture breeds to healthier relations and ultimately serves to benefit everyone.
— Sneha Ramchandani, Versova

Despite several flaws, Mumbai has several plus points. For instance, one might not appreciate but as compared to other cities, the quality of water supplied to people is way better. Also the condition of public hospitals is good as compared to those present in other cities. But then there are problems with traffic jams, pollution in air and water that needs to be addressed."
— Ashok Datar, Mahim

It is definitely not the third most livable city. Not everyone knows the parameters on which it has been decided. How can it be a livable city when a person cannot buy a space in Mumbai to live? It is livable only for the ultra-rich. More than 60 per cent of its population lives in slums. Many live in pagdi system houses. Every government has bowed down to developers and builders. There are nearly 200 buildings of BDD and BIT chawls with common toilet and very small rooms. The frustration level is too high among people who live there. It definitely is a smart city to invest in, but that doesn't make it livable. People feel cheated wherever they invest to live because of its poor quality of life.
— Bhaskar Prabhu, Dadar

Mumbai deserves the third place because compared to the earlier days, its infrastructure and economy are in good shape. Our pollution level compared to many other cities is better. There are issues with roads and administration, but they are improving gradually. We have a happening and safe nightlife. We have a scope of improvement, but considering all the factors we do deserve the third place.
— Aavesh Shaikh, Mumbai Central

Lack of public transport is a major impediment in terming Mumbai a liveable city. Poor air quality shoots up medical expenses and lowers life expectancy. Traffic congestion increases the time you spend on roads plying to the work and back. The high cost of living forces residents to live far off in suburbs. The high cost of living makes the unliveable.
— Prakash Agarwal, Chandivali

Mumbai deserves the third most livable city tag considering the public facilities available in the city for the citizens. Though I agree that there are certain problems related to roads and transport, but that should not stop us from looking at the brighter sides. Though citizens have to waste hours on roads, stuck in traffic while travelling from one place to another, but the city has good connectivity in comparison to other cities. People should not judge the liveability of the city just by focusing on the traffic congestion issue. One should also look at the other facilities which are available for the citizens.
— Shripad Ozarkar, Thane

EXPERT SPEAK

I am surprised. Our indicators are not even up to the national standards. It implies that other cities are much worse than us. If Mumbai is the gold standard for other cities, we need to be shocked. We will have to look at the methodology. In terms of mobility and travelling, open space, everything is an issue. Our open space is less than one sq mt per capita. There is a need to review on it has been evaluated. We should first meet our URDPFI or national standards.
— Pankaj Joshi, executive director of UDRI

A city is liveable if citizens get affordable housing. In Mumbai, the cheapest home is available at around Rs 60-70 lakh. For this, one has to be displaced and relocated to the remotest corners of the city. To buy a house of Rs 60 lakh, the income of the person must be around Rs 15 lakh per annum. Hardly one or two per cent of the population falls in this bracket. If a city does not provide affordable homes, it is useless to talk about other parameters. One can use other facilities if he or she is capable to buy a home. Everyone should be given an opportunity to buy a home.
— Chandrashekhar Prabhu, Urban Planner