Can We Dare Hope For A More Liveable Mumbai In 2025?

The end of the calendar year is an apt time to take stock of key incidents that transpired, reflecting on the highs and lows of the past year, and creating a wishlist for the next. For Mumbai, the latter part is straightforward: we want, no, we demand a city that’s liveable in every respect for everyone.

This means an improved city where tall skyscrapers do not dwarf life on the streets, affordable housing becomes a reality, and pavements are built and maintained for walkers to use safely. Roads should be free of potholes and rough surfaces. Public transport systems must be developed comprehensively, without prioritising the metro alone. We envision many more gardens and open spaces that are maintained and accessible to all, protected trees, and rejuvenated water bodies. Cultural life should flourish in clean, welcoming public arenas. Public schools and colleges in every neighbourhood must be comparable to private institutions, and markets must not encroach on pedestrian spaces. Traffic discipline should be strictly enforced by police personnel.

Further, projects must undergo climate and gender audits, and the long-pending elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation should ensure transparency and accountability. A fair deal in the Dharavi redevelopment that benefits its residents and the city, along with greater neighbourhood-level participation in governance, is essential. This exhaustive list is far from complete. It requires input from every community in Mumbai, but the core demand is simple: a liveable city that respects the life and dignity of its 18-19 million residents.

The modesty of these demands — basic pavements, clean air, functional buses — reflects the grim state of Mumbai’s civic infrastructure. Even as we set our sights low, disappointment looms large. The question remains: why is it so difficult to make Mumbai liveable?

It is not for lack of resources. The BMC and allied bodies have substantial funds, among the richest municipal institutions globally. It is not a lack of imagination; Mumbaikars have built world-class start-ups, towering skyscrapers, and executed ambitious infrastructure projects like the 33-kilometre underground metro. Political will exists when it suits those in power, as evidenced by projects like the Coastal Road and Atal Setu. Nor is it for lack of public interest; activists, citizens, and experts continuously strive to make the city better.

Despite these advantages, 2024 saw grim reminders of systemic failures. BEST buses, a lifeline for over three million commuters, faced accidents and financial losses, including cumulative debts of nearly ₹9300 crore. Pedestrian safety remains perilous; roads and obstructed pavements pushed walkers into traffic, contributing to alarming fatality rates. Over 800 skyscrapers have been approved since 2008, yet affordable housing remains elusive. MHADA’s recent call for 2030 houses attracted over 1.3 lakh applicants, highlighting the acute housing crisis.

Environmental degradation adds to the woes. Thousands of trees were felled for projects, exacerbating the city’s vulnerability to climate extremes. Air quality repeatedly hit hazardous levels, yet comprehensive action plans are lacking. Public safety also came under scrutiny with incidents like the Kurla BEST bus tragedy and the deadly hoarding collapse, exposing administrative negligence and corruption.

Can we dare to hope for a better 2025? Without hope, all is lost. Yet, hope must translate into action. We need accountable governance, sustainable urban planning, and active civic participation to realise our wishlist. The dream of a liveable Mumbai should not remain a mere aspiration but a shared responsibility and achievable goal.

Smruti Koppikar, senior journalist and urban chronicler, writes extensively on cities, development, gender, and the media. She is the Founder Editor of the award-winning online journal ‘Question of Cities’ and won the Laadli Media Award 2024 for her writing in this column.