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By:

Minal Sancheti

2 May 2026 at 12:26:53 pm

Lost in Transport

Mumbai’s grand transport infrastructure is undermined by potholes, Poor discipline and a last-mile gaps that keeps it crawling Mumbai: It is morning time, and Pawan Khandelwal is all set to leave for work. A creative lead at an ad agency in Malad, Mumbai, Khandelwal should take 12 to 15 minutes to reach the office, but that rarely happens because of the traffic, poor road quality and lack of civic sense among co-drivers on the road. He mostly ends up reaching the office in 30 to 40 minutes....

Lost in Transport

Mumbai’s grand transport infrastructure is undermined by potholes, Poor discipline and a last-mile gaps that keeps it crawling Mumbai: It is morning time, and Pawan Khandelwal is all set to leave for work. A creative lead at an ad agency in Malad, Mumbai, Khandelwal should take 12 to 15 minutes to reach the office, but that rarely happens because of the traffic, poor road quality and lack of civic sense among co-drivers on the road. He mostly ends up reaching the office in 30 to 40 minutes. Khandelwal firmly believes that road construction is not a major issue for traffic. “The road under construction is not a big issue because they usually don’t take very long to repair the roads. But even after their work is done, it is not done perfectly. At times when they are digging up the road for other purposes, they often leave a bump or a pothole,” he said. He gives an example, “One can see it on the western express highway. There are so many bumps. We call it a highway, but we can’t even drive at 15 km/h because it is not fixed properly.” He also blames people for not following traffic rules, which adds to the problem. Traffic Woes Although there are coastal roads and metros available, the traffic still seems to be a problem for many residents. A media professional and a daily commuter, Charlene Flanagan has been travelling in Mumbai for many years now. There is not much difference in her experience of the traffic congestion. From her experience, she believes the coastal roads and metros have not completely accomplished the mission of curbing traffic congestion. She says, “As a resident of Mumbai and as a person with a valid driver’s licence, I would say the traf f ic hasn’t really changed. It is still as congested, and whether the coastal roads have helped depends on the time of the day you leave and whether you are going against the traffic or along with the traffic.” The pedestrians also face problems. Saloni Mehta, a theatre artiste, says, “I prefer walking to my destinations. For example, I live in Versova, and if I want to see a play in the Prithvi Theatre, I will take a half-hour walk. However, this one time, I could not reach the venue, not just because of the traffic but also because there were no pavements left to walk on. The roads are dug up, and every road is just half a road.” Mumbai’s average speed covered is 5.2 km per 15 minutes. During the peak traffic hours in the morning, when most people travel to their workplace, the average speed is 18.5 km/h. It is important to understand the issue and address it with a solution. Sudhir Badami, an author of the book ‘Matter of Equitability - Making Commuting in Mumbai Enviable’, explains why people still prefer to use cars over metros, “The metro line 3 has definitely taken away some car users. But it has not taken away sufficient numbers of car users to make a difference in the state of road congestion. The reason behind this is essentially the last-mile connectivity in areas where the Aqua Line or Line 7 operates, especially in suburban areas. In the city area, it is supported by good BEST services on the one hand, and taxis being available near the metro stations on the other hand. But most car users still opt for using their cars, as public transport currently does provide assured exclusivity, comfort and good frequency, not forgetting last mile connectivity. The Coastal Road sees very few cars compared to the number of cars on Mumbai’s Roads. Badami, as a transportation analyst, says, “Mumbai has approximately 16 Lakhs motor cars, out of which only about 55,000 seem to be using coastal roads. It is such a minuscule proportion for whom so much has been spent. This is largely because in the city, people don’t go from one end of the city to the other end. They normally start from in between and go somewhere in between. If there is not much time saving for the shorter stretches, then people are not likely to take it, and there will be continued congestion on city roads.” “In general, the necessity of the last-mile connectivity is an important part, but the greater part will be how to get car users onto the public transport,” says Badami. Public transport must provide near exclusivity, comfort and safety to a car-using commuter for migration to take place. This is where the importance of last-mile connectivity is felt. Air Pollution The slow-moving traffic also adds to the air pollution in the city several times more than when they are moving at optimum speeds, he says. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Mumbai, Anil Kumbhare, denies that there is much traffic congestion in Mumbai as compared to five years back. He credits the coastal roads for curbing the traffic. He says, “Earlier, there used to be bumper-to bumper traffic near Haji Ali. That has come down drastically. As coastal roads shape, the traffic will go down.” He also adds that there is traffic congestion in the morning hours as people are travelling for work. But there is no traffic jam. Although coastal roads have helped, there are still pockets of the city that face traffic congestion every day. This can be solved with careful planning and execution.

Gentle Reformer

Updated: Jan 2, 2025

The passing of Dr. Manmohan Singh at 92 marks the end of an era for India’s political and economic landscape. A man of quiet demeanour but towering intellect, Dr. Singh’s legacy is etched indelibly in the annals of modern India. As Finance Minister in 1991, he turned a nation on the brink of economic collapse into a rising power through reforms that redefined India’s destiny. As Prime Minister, he transformed the nation’s global standing, embracing policies that balanced pragmatism with profound vision.


Dr. Singh’s maiden Budget speech in July 1991 was nothing short of historic. Faced with a fiscal deficit nearing 8.5 percent of GDP, dangerously low foreign reserves and mounting balance of payments and current account deficits, he did the unthinkable by opening the gates to industrial delicensing. By dismantling protectionist barriers, he laid the groundwork for India’s integration into the global economy. In a display of rare candour, he acknowledged the policy failures of his predecessors, urging Parliament to embrace the winds of change with a humility and clarity that have since become rare commodities in political discourse.


The reforms were transformative. From the creation of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to protect investors to his impassioned arguments for consumer welfare and wealth creation, Dr. Singh shaped an economy that would become synonymous with opportunity and innovation. Yet, his vision extended beyond material wealth. He warned against the perils of “mindless and heartless” consumerism, striking a balance between economic liberalization and social responsibility.


As Prime Minister, Dr. Singh’s quiet resolve shone through in moments of crisis. When the 2004 tsunami devastated the region, he demonstrated India’s newfound confidence on the global stage. Declining foreign aid, he mobilized India’s resources to assist neighbouring nations, marking its emergence as a humanitarian power and paving the way for Quad partnerships.


On foreign policy, Dr. Singh achieved breakthroughs that reshaped India’s place in the world. His deft negotiation of the civil nuclear deal with the United States allowed India access to nuclear energy without compromising its strategic autonomy. Similarly, his rapprochement with Japan, cemented by his warm relationship with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, ended India’s post-nuclear test isolation. His integrity and intellectual gravitas earned him respect from leaders as diverse as George W. Bush and Barack Obama.


Dr. Singh’s humility was legendary. Even as Prime Minister, he chose a modest Maruti Suzuki 800 over a luxury BMW, signalling his deep connection with the common man. This simplicity belied the enormity of his contributions. For a man who seldom sought the limelight, his achievements spoke louder than any rhetoric could.


Critics often labelled him “maun” or silent, mistaking his reserve for passivity. But Dr. Singh’s quiet confidence and unyielding dedication were his greatest strengths. In a fractious political landscape, he remained a rare figure of unity and intellect. His legacy as the architect of India’s economic resurgence and a statesman of remarkable vision will endure, shaping the India of today and tomorrow.

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