What is the main criticism of Mumbai's new coastal road?

The main criticism is that the taxpayer-funded road primarily benefits a wealthy elite while the majority of Mumbai's residents rely on overcrowded public transport.

How does the Mumbai coastal road impact the environment?

The road's construction involved reclaiming land, leading to the destruction of crucial mangrove forests, which increases Mumbai's vulnerability to flooding.

Who are the Koli fishing community and how are they affected by the coastal road?

The Koli are Mumbai's original coastal inhabitants whose traditional fishing sites and livelihoods are threatened by land reclamation for the coastal road project.

Home / Environment / Mumbai's Coastal Road: Boon for Elite, Burden for Many

Mumbai's Coastal Road: Boon for Elite, Burden for Many

21 Jan

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Summary

64% of residents use overcrowded public transport, facing daily risks.
New coastal road cost billions, benefiting a wealthy minority.
Environmental activists cite mangrove destruction and lost fishing livelihoods.

Mumbai's Coastal Road: Boon for Elite, Burden for Many

Mumbai's new eight-lane coastal road, an engineering feat connecting north and south, is being criticized as a symbol of the city's stark inequality. While it significantly reduces travel time for car owners, an estimated 64% of the 22.5 million residents depend on overcrowded public transport, where daily deaths are reported.

Critics, including environmental activists and academics, state the billions invested in the road should have been allocated to public transportation. They argue the highway exclusively serves the wealthy, exacerbating the wealth gap and imposing costs on the general populace.

Beyond accessibility issues, the project has environmental repercussions. Construction involved reclaiming land from the Arabian Sea, leading to the destruction of vital mangrove forests. These natural barriers protect Mumbai from flooding, and their removal heightens the city's vulnerability.