The Airport that never was
Navi Mumbai!! The promised land for the land starved population of the original Seven island city. Yes, the Mumbai city had evolved from seven different islands, Colaba, little Colaba, Bombay, Mazgaon, Worli, Parel and Mahim. Though there have been many references to this area in the ancient times, especially Mahim or Mahikavati, which was the capital of Raja Bhimdev in the 12th century, it came to be recognised as Bombay after the Portuguese took over. The British then acquired Bombay from the Portuguese, fast development started and Bombay became a business hub. Over a period of about a century, Bombay reclaimed land from the sea to establish itself as one of the most important cities of British ruled India. Soon, great Cloth mills were erected throughout the city and the rail and tram network was established. Most of the big business houses had their offices in South Bombay or South Mumbai, as it was to be called later. Independent India inherited this enviable city from the British. After independence, the development gathered further speed. The seat of Government, the Mantralaya, the Share Bazar, the ports, the head office of the Police, et al, were all located in South Mumbai. This concentration of all major offices in South Mumbai, the limited space availability, the need of the people to try and stay as close to their place of work, put a great strain on all essential services like water supply and transport. The standard of living for most residents went from bad to worse. This forced the government to look at surrounding areas to develop as business and residential hubs. And this is how the concept of Navi Mumbai started being developed. A separate body, CIDCO was established and was headquartered at Panvel situated on the Indian mainland. The surrounding village land was acquired from the villagers and was developed into a planned city. In 1973 Vashi city was connected to Mumbai by a bridge to ensure better mobility. There was not much response to the new city but all this changed with the starting of the wholesale market at Vashi in 1990 and the construction of a railway line between Mankhurd and Vashi. These two developments suddenly resulted in a boom in construction activity with more and more people now ready to shift to the new city.
Somewhere at the start of the new millennium, the proposed new airport at Navi Mumbai was announced which set off another frenzied round of construction in the nearby areas. The land prices went through the roof and flat prices appreciated manifold. The airport plans were drawn up and 7200 acres were earmarked for the new airport. But several NGO’s and the Environment Ministry itself raised several objections and the blue coloured board displaying the proposed location of the new airport has remained just that…a board, albeit, coated with a thick layer of dust which gets washed off every monsoon. The recent news that only one Conglomerate had bid for building the new airport which has further delayed the already delayed process, set me writing this post. The only ones to be highly benefited till now, has been the powerful builders lobby. So there stands the display board at the side of the road, weathering all storms since the last15 years.
Yatindra Tawde
Navi Mumbai!! The promised land for the land starved population of the original Seven island city. Yes, the Mumbai city had evolved from seven different islands, Colaba, little Colaba, Bombay, Mazgaon, Worli, Parel and Mahim. Though there have been many references to this area in the ancient times, especially Mahim or Mahikavati, which was the capital of Raja Bhimdev in the 12th century, it came to be recognised as Bombay after the Portuguese took over. The British then acquired Bombay from the Portuguese, fast development started and Bombay became a business hub. Over a period of about a century, Bombay reclaimed land from the sea to establish itself as one of the most important cities of British ruled India. Soon, great Cloth mills were erected throughout the city and the rail and tram network was established. Most of the big business houses had their offices in South Bombay or South Mumbai, as it was to be called later. Independent India inherited this enviable city from the British. After independence, the development gathered further speed. The seat of Government, the Mantralaya, the Share Bazar, the ports, the head office of the Police, et al, were all located in South Mumbai. This concentration of all major offices in South Mumbai, the limited space availability, the need of the people to try and stay as close to their place of work, put a great strain on all essential services like water supply and transport. The standard of living for most residents went from bad to worse. This forced the government to look at surrounding areas to develop as business and residential hubs. And this is how the concept of Navi Mumbai started being developed. A separate body, CIDCO was established and was headquartered at Panvel situated on the Indian mainland. The surrounding village land was acquired from the villagers and was developed into a planned city. In 1973 Vashi city was connected to Mumbai by a bridge to ensure better mobility. There was not much response to the new city but all this changed with the starting of the wholesale market at Vashi in 1990 and the construction of a railway line between Mankhurd and Vashi. These two developments suddenly resulted in a boom in construction activity with more and more people now ready to shift to the new city.
Somewhere at the start of the new millennium, the proposed new airport at Navi Mumbai was announced which set off another frenzied round of construction in the nearby areas. The land prices went through the roof and flat prices appreciated manifold. The airport plans were drawn up and 7200 acres were earmarked for the new airport. But several NGO’s and the Environment Ministry itself raised several objections and the blue coloured board displaying the proposed location of the new airport has remained just that…a board, albeit, coated with a thick layer of dust which gets washed off every monsoon. The recent news that only one Conglomerate had bid for building the new airport which has further delayed the already delayed process, set me writing this post. The only ones to be highly benefited till now, has been the powerful builders lobby. So there stands the display board at the side of the road, weathering all storms since the last15 years.
Yatindra Tawde
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