Authorities must resolve to adhere to timelines

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The inevitable looking back/forward begins as we careen towards 2026. Every New Year brings resolve, hope of change, projects, and deadlines. In a city like Mumbai, where things are in tremendous flux and the skyline, including its public infrastructure, is undergoing tremendous transformation, our leaders must ensure that public projects started this year, with a 2026 deadline, are completed within the coming year.

Let us turn the page on not sticking to timelines, passing the buck to different agencies, or even waiting for months on end for the requisite ‘very important' person to arrive to inaugurate a badly needed public facility or amenity. This should be the year public projects are completed in the stipulated time and opened for citizens to enjoy. In particular, we stress utilities, such as toilet blocks, that are under construction or awaiting completion. We want public parks that are promised to take shape and finish this year so that people can enjoy them. We want pavements or roads that seem to be out of bounds for myriad reasons, closed, repaired and open to the public. Let us not apply Indian Stretchable Time (IST) to these projects. The 2026 resolution must be to adhere to timelines and ensure that a project is signed, sealed, and delivered on time. Often, one has heard people scoff at the deadlines mentioned when infrastructure is announced. This will be delayed by at least one year, they say.

Adherence to deadlines builds respect and trust between authorities and the citizenry. Let our leaders realise that slipshod, sloppy, and slow mean a loss of belief in the people. Infra that is good quality, up and available in the time stipulated, is the ultimate symbol of a working city with clear, strong decision-making and execution. We wish for that, among many other things, for 2026.