Mumbai's Open space to double? Don't hold your breath yet

On paper, a Mumbaikar is set by 2034 to get twice the open space they do now, if what the Development Plan proposes comes to fruition without deviation. But when has that ever happened?

Civic officials, while clearing doubts over the DP at the BMC headquarters on Thursday, buoyantly claimed that the open space in Mumbai is expected to jump from the current 1.28 sq m per capita, which is poor even by modest standards, to 3.37 sq m, by 2034, if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation fully realises the new plan.

The figure has been arrived at after accounting for the 8 million jobs and one million affordable homes the DP intends to create over the years. The rosy optimism is heartwarming, but beyond the pale of the achievable if one goes by the BMC's track record of adhering to its past plans for the city, remarked activists.

A per-person open space of 3.37 sq m is the accessible open space at plots proposed to be reserved as recreational grounds, public grounds and gardens. But such spaces are not always accessible as they restricted by timings and sometimes political "ownership", civic campaigners and environmentalists have pointed out time and again.

"It's a pie in the sky. Only time will tell if the authorities can implement the plan to create these open spaces. For now, they cannot even get an open space policy in place. Politicians have control of some. Others are open to the public for two hours in the day and two hours in the evening. This is hardly access. It has to be accessible from 6am till nightfall at 8. Like the Oval," said Nayana Kathpaliya, trustee of NAGAR, an NGO that campaigns for open spaces.

But everything ultimately depends on the definition of the will-o'-the-wisp that is open spaces in this cramped metropolis. If we count spaces like Aarey Colony or Byculla zoo, which are not marked as gardens but are accessible, then the per-capita open space will climb to 6.13 sq m, from 4.83 sq m now. Alongside non-accessible areas like mangrove patches and salt pans, it currently works out 10.32 sq m now.

Civic officials said: "We are allowing terrace gardens in new buildings. That will add to the open spaces for community set-ups, though not accessible to public at large."

Kathpaliya remained circumspect in her projections. "Unless they push this aggressively, we do not see any of this happening. Nothing of the sort did in last 20 years. The national average for open spaces is 10 sq m. It is shameful we have 1.28 sq m. Even Delhi fares better than us. As do international cities."