Infrastructure projects in Mumbai | Development and its discontents
Signboards proclaiming ‘Mumbai Upgrading’ have become a ubiquitous sight at construction sites across the city and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), heralding the ambitious drive of India’s financial capital towards world-class infrastructure.For the city’s fisherfolk though, this development comes at a cost. Hitesh Koli, a 35-year-old fisherman from Gavhan village in Ulwe taluka, Navi Mumbai, 35 km from Mumbai, laments, “We, the Kolis, are the original inhabitants of this region, yet no development project so far has prioritised our well-being.” Concerns over dwindling fishing spots and destruction of mangroves to pave the way for infrastructure projects have ignited anger among members of his community.Before the establishment of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) 40 years ago, K...