Mumbai: Anuj Puri, chairman and country head of Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, lists out the points where Mumbai can improve

PIC / Pradeep Dhivar

The first thing you want to better in Mumbai is its infrastructure. The existing infrastructure is a nightmare, as it doesn't support the increase in density. There are two-three worthwhile things that come to my mind.

Firstly, whenever the government gives approval to developers to build on mill land, they should charge them an X amount for every square foot of land sold.

This fund can then be channelised to build more sewage lines, improve the electric supply and so on. The government should also ask the developers to maintain the area around one kilometre radius of their projects.

Secondly, the mass transport system has to improve. One option can be to build a sky train. The government can give out stations to the developers for construction.

For example, if it's Dadar, the developer can build an elevated rail that can be G + four levels. The small shops near the station can be moved to these levels, decongesting the roads.

Another worry is the Bandra-Worli sealink. Once in working condition, Worli too will be congested because the work on the Worli-Nariman Point flyover has not even begun.
Mumbai also needs very stringent measures against proliferation of slums.

In this regard, Delhi is a complete winner. It has better mass transport system, roads are wider, the pleasure and entertainment hubs are well placed and there are no shanties or hutments.
 
However, multi-internationals are hesitant to come to Mumbai as it is exactly the opposite. We have lost the IBS International School to Hyderabad, the F1 to Delhi and IT companies to Bangalore all because of lack of infrastructure.

Mumbai is a buzzing place with bachelors as well as couples. However, young families prefer settling in Delhi or Bangalore because they have international schools, greenery, better housing. What Mumbai's call centre crowd needs is 1BHKs or studio apartments.

Navi Mumbai is an answer to the city's congestion. Many corporate and financial institutions have their head quarters here; it is a melting pot of cultures and communities, but it has connectivity issues.

Besides, it is not only the government and the builder community, but also the citizens who need to contribute to improve the city. The mindset needs to change. Cleanliness and maintenance are still not taken seriously. Dirt attracts dirt and if the citizens too became conscious, then we could transform the city's look.