Mumbai is a dynamic city with a culture of its own. While large-scale infrastructure projects such as the Atal Setu, metro rail and the new airport in Navi Mumbai have come up, the quality of life, over the years, has gone down (‘Dream city 3.0’, March 8).
One hopes that the proposed Third Mumbai will be developed on a public-private partnership basis, drawing on models like Singapore and major Chinese cities. It should aim to create world-class facilities—hospitals, hotels, schools, transportation networks, malls and more—using modern technology and generate thousands of jobs.
K.V. Jayaram,
On email.
Your cover story on the Third Mumbai was fascinating. I hope that once Third Mumbai becomes a reality, it will boost economic growth as well as create more job opportunities. It will also help reduce the traffic congestion in present-day Mumbai.
Anil Deshpande,
On email.
The idea of a ‘Third Mumbai’ still feels like a faraway dream. I am not sure how many of us will be alive to see it become a reality. What matters more is to make present Mumbai a liveable city. Overcrowding has dragged the city down, and there is a limit to how much it can expand.
The jam-packed local trains are the first thing that need to be addressed. They have been operating this way for decades, and watching people crammed into compartments and hanging outside trains is regressive, to say the least.
V.B. Haridas,
On email.
It is good to see Mumbai growing in the manner that it is, and I do like the city. But, ideally, all cities should grow in a similar manner for the country to achieve truly inclusive development. Rural India, in particular, needs far greater focus.
I would be happy if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis gives equal importance to Vidarbha and the eastern belt of the state, which often tend to be neglected. There is nothing wrong in developing Mumbai, but the Fadnavis government should also ensure that other regions are developed in a meaningful way. The fruits of development, after all, must reach everyone in equal measure.
Rahul S. Gupta,
On email.
Point to ponder
R. Prasannan said, “How sad! Fugitives from law know Vanuatu; not one of our lords of law!” It raises an interesting point (‘Powerdrive’, March 8).
Having said that, do lawmakers, lawyers and members of the judiciary really know everything that is issued in the gazette of the government of India, or the various state governments? The same applies to the common people of India as well.
Jayadeva Yarasi,
On email.
Strange case of Donald Trump
Donald Trump has emerged as one of the most controversial leaders of our times (‘Soundbite’, March 8). He advises other nations to avoid wars, yet often takes decisions that escalate tensions according to his own impulses. His responses to the media are frequently combative, with journalists dismissed as propagandists.
Trump appears to view global politics as though it were a reality show in which he is both the central character and the producer. Because he leads the US, many world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continue to engage with him diplomatically. I am sure, in private conversations with trusted aides, many of them must be expressing sharp criticism or even mocking Trump’s style of leadership.
Rupika Tyagi,
On email.
Take a cue from Paris
Cleaning Yamuna has now become more of a political issue than an environmental one (‘Foul flow’, March 8). It is shocking to learn that as many as 22 major drains empty into the river, carrying a toxic cocktail of sewage and industrial effluents. Wastewater and sewage discharged from unauthorised colonies along the Yamuna’s banks further add to the menace.
The Delhi government could take a cue from Paris, which undertook an ambitious effort to clean the Seine river that was once heavily polluted with E. coli, enterococci bacteria and other contaminants along with industrial effluents. France reportedly spent about $1.5 billion to revive the almost dead river and make it fit for hosting swimming events during the 2024 Olympics. The effort took years, but the wait proved worthwhile as the river was restored in time for a major international event.
With India hoping to host the 2036 Olympic games, focused and sustained attention on cleansing the Yamuna would not only improve the city’s environment but also bring national prestige.
R.V. Baskaran,
On email.
Limit the rush
Few temples in India have influenced culture and tradition as profoundly as the sacred shrine of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala, perched atop the seven hills (‘Tech comes to temple’, March 8). In a busy season nearly one lakh pilgrims visit the shrine every day.
Although similar numbers of devotees visit other major temples in the country like Varanasi, Shirdi, Ujjain, Puri Jagannath and the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the management system at Tirumala needs significant improvement, as the waiting time for darshan stretches to several hours. Many pilgrims waiting in the compartments are frequently unaware of the reasons for such inordinate delays.
While there are several factors behind the long queues—such as the regular flow of VIPs and celebrities—there are also middlemen who exploit gullible pilgrims by extorting money with promises of quicker darshan.
S. Shashidhar,
On email.