That dreaded daily commute on an awful road, a crowded train, a jam-packed bus, a rapacious taxi driver and a crazed autorickshaw. Whichever way you look at it, it ain’t fun.
What’s the one thing that every Mumbaikar wished he or she had more of? Time, right? That dreaded daily commute on an awful road, a crowded train, a jam-packed bus, a rapacious taxi driver and a crazed autorickshaw. Whichever way you look at it, it ain’t fun.
Is it going to get any better in the future? Are we going to be flying around in sky taxis or will we strap jet packs on to our backs? Will we completely run out of fuel options and just have to walk everywhere? Bring back those bullock carts, please BMC, we’re really going to need them in the days when fuel is scarce… bio gas as an alternative automobile fuel, anyone?
Will the metro actually start? Will it be supplemented by elevated trains? Will we take to the water? Do we need to make the city less hot? The future’s out there and who’s to say it can make better sense of Mumbai’s transportation needs?
Our experts take a sober and well-thought-out view: alternative fuels, mass transit systems, flexitimes and mobile offices, weather control, the sea and the air.
Dilip Chhabria, Automobile Designer
In my opinion, the next 50 years will a see a marked rise in the use of mass transit systems. Beyond that we will also see smaller two-seaters cars that will run on eco-friendly fuels such as Hydrogen. Recent studies show that most cars on Mumbai roads have very low occupancy rate. I’m sure that these small cars will be very popular, considering how congested our roads are. Beyond this, Mumbaikars should also have the option of getting these small green cars on rent. So, users can leave them on the road once they finish using them to get from one point of the city to another.
AL Quadros, general secretary, Bombay Taximen’s Union
In the next 50 years, road traffic is going to be so bad that more and more people are going to choose to move their entire office and homes, including the kitchen sink, into their cars. Not only will this cut down on travel time but also help them save on Mumbai’s expensive real estate. Mumbai’s black and yellows can, of course, step up to the challenge of providing these mobile offices and homes.
Namit Malhotra, MD, Prime Focus, which offers post-production services. Projects include Bollywood films such as Omkara, Fanna and Golmaal.
“Looking at it futuristically, over the next 50 years we should develop a system which can control the weather in Mumbai making it conducive for all of us to walk to our destinations. However, I do believe that as part of the evolution process we will see a lot of use of technology and technology-enabled systems. So, we should aim to create a parallel road mechanism which could have huge mega flyovers that connect one end of the city to the other and have exits at every major junction. This system should also work in tandem with other mass transport systems such as trains, water transport, and so on.
Nitin Dossa, Executive Chairman, Western India Automobile Association (WIAA)
I don’t think the situation is going to be any different 50 years down the line. Just look at how much time the state and central governments take to clear one project. We have been hearing about the sea-link, the metro and the hovercraft project for the last two decades. These projects are finally taking off after such a long wait. However, I do believe that the citizens of this city will benefit greatly if the government focuses on modernising and improving, public transport. Fifty years from now, I would like to see Mumbaikars using the waterways and the sea to get to their destination on time. Beyond this Mumbai could also look at developing a safe, efficient and economic mode of air transport. People would be able to save so much travel time if they took a helicopter to work.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}