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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker,...

Healing Beyond the Clinic

Dr Kirti Samudra “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” This thought by Mother Teresa finds reflection in the life of Panvel-based diabetologist Dr Kirti Samudra, who has spent decades caring not only for her family but also thousands of patients who see her as their guide. As we mark International Women’s Day, stories like hers remind us that women of substance often shape society quietly through compassion, resilience and dedication. Doctor, mother, homemaker, mentor and philanthropist — Dr Samudra has balanced many roles with commitment. While she manages a busy medical practice, her deeper calling has always been service. For her, medicine is not merely a profession but a responsibility towards the people who depend on her guidance. Nagpur to Panvel Born and raised in Nagpur, Dr Samudra completed her medical education there before moving to Mumbai in search of better opportunities. The early years were challenging. With determination, she and her husband Girish Samudra, an entrepreneur involved in underwater pipeline projects, chose to build their life in Panvel. At a time when the town was still developing and healthcare awareness was limited, she decided to make it both her workplace and home. What began with modest resources gradually grew into a trusted medical practice built on long-standing relationships with patients. Fighting Diabetes Recognising the growing threat of diabetes, Dr Samudra dedicated her career to treating and educating patients about the disease. Over the years, she has registered nearly 30,000 patients from Panvel and nearby areas. Yet she believes treatment alone is not enough. “Diabetes is a lifelong disease. Medicines are important, but patient education is equally critical. If people understand the condition, they can manage it better and prevent complications,” she says. For more than 27 years, she has organised an Annual Patients’ Education Programme, offering diagnostic tests at concessional rates and sessions on lifestyle management. Family, Practice With her husband frequently travelling for business, much of the responsibility of raising their two children fell on Dr Samudra. Instead of expanding her practice aggressively, she kept it close to home and adjusted her OPD timings around her children’s schedules. “It was not easy,” she recalls, “but I wanted to fulfil my responsibilities as a mother while continuing to serve my patients.” Beyond Medicine Today, Dr Samudra also devotes time to social initiatives through the Bharat Vikas Parishad, where she serves as Regional Head. Her projects include  Plastic Mukta Vasundhara , which promotes reduced use of single-use plastic, and  Sainik Ho Tumchyasathi , an initiative that sends Diwali  faral  (snack hamper) to Indian soldiers posted at the borders. Last year alone, 15,000 boxes were sent to troops. Despite decades of service, she measures success not in wealth but in goodwill. “I may not have earned huge money,” she says, “but I have earned immense love and respect from my patients. That is something I will always be grateful for.”

Infrastructure Illusion

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Mumbai, India’s bustling financial capital, has long been synonymous with traffic congestion and torturous commutes. Despite an array of infrastructure projects that promise to ease the city’s chronic congestion, the plight of its daily commuters remains largely unchanged. The city’s congested roads, overcrowded trains, and perpetually delayed buses are a daily ordeal for millions. While the Coastal Road and the Mumbai Metro offer glimmers of hope, they have not yet transformed the commute. The blame lies partly with the patchwork approach to urban planning and partly with the government’s lagging pace in addressing the core issues that plague Mumbai’s transport system.

The city’s broader public transport system remains fragmented, with inadequate integration between buses, trains, metros, and other modes of transport. The failure to establish a unified ticketing system and synchronize schedules leaves commuters with a disjointed web of options. Furthermore, the city’s streets are plagued by illegal parking, encroachments, and poorly maintained roads, all of which exacerbate congestion. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), notorious for its inefficiencies and corruption scandals, has yet to fully address these fundamental issues. Without stringent enforcement of traffic regulations and a commitment to maintaining road infrastructure, the benefits of new projects risk being undermined.

For Mumbai to truly emerge from its traffic nightmare, the government must adopt a more holistic and forward-looking approach. This means accelerating the completion of all planned Metro lines and ensuring they are seamlessly integrated with other transport modes. Expanding pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, such as wider sidewalks, dedicated cycling lanes, and safe pedestrian crossings, could also alleviate pressure on the roads. Additionally, congestion pricing — a strategy successfully employed in global cities like London and Singapore — could discourage unnecessary vehicle use in the most congested areas during peak hours if properly implemented with necessary manpower.

Finally, environmental sustainability must be a core consideration in all future projects. Mumbai’s susceptibility to flooding and other climate-related challenges makes it imperative that new infrastructure is designed with resilience in mind. Green spaces, adequate drainage systems and adherence to environmental norms will not only improve traffic flow but also enhance the city’s overall liveability.

Mumbai’s recent infrastructure surge offers hope, but without a comprehensive strategy that addresses the root causes of its congestion, the city’s traffic woes will persist. The state government must move beyond short-term fixes and work towards a cohesive, integrated transport system that serves all Mumbaikars. Only then can the city truly fulfil its potential as India’s gateway to the world, with a transport network that is efficient, sustainable and worthy of its status as a global metropolis. Until then, the daily grind of gridlock will remain a stark reminder of the work that still hangs fire.

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