Big economy, small comfort

So overcrowded are our local trains that many people cannot even enter them, and some risk their lives just to reach work on time. File pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

GDP is important. No state can progress without economic growth, investment, and rising output. Maharashtra's ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar economy reflects that aspiration. But development cannot be measured by numbers alone. If the journey creates a "big economy" but leaves citizens with "small comfort", then growth remains incomplete. Alongside GDP, we must also ask whether daily life is becoming safer, smoother, and less stressful for ordinary people.

A NITI Aayog report has set an ambitious goal for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), to double its GDP from R12 lakh crore to R26 lakh crore by 2030 and transform Mumbai and nearby districts Thane, Palghar, and Raigad into a global economic hub. The region already contributes nearly one-third of Maharashtra's GDP and will be central to the state's trillion-dollar dream.

But step outside the boardrooms and glass towers, and reality tells a different story. Lakhs of people spend hours stuck in traffic every day. An international traffic study found that the average time to travel 10 kilometres in Mumbai during peak hours increased to 29.26 minutes in 2024 from 21.20 minutes in 2023.

Roads remain dug up for months. Potholes return every monsoon. Traffic discipline is weak, and enforcement is inconsistent. Illegal encroachments take over footpaths and public spaces, making even walking unsafe in many areas.

No doubt, projects like the Metro and new bridges have improved connectivity and reduced pressure on certain stretches. But the ground reality still tells another story. Footpaths remain encroached by hawkers, handcarts, and eatery stalls. Garages, food stalls, and illegally parked vehicles occupy service roads along the Eastern and Western Express Highways. In parts of Link Road, public space meant for smooth movement is taken over by used-car dealers and roadside businesses. Infrastructure may be expanding, but civic discipline and enforcement continue to lag.

So overcrowded are our local trains that many people cannot even enter them, and some risk their lives, falling from moving coaches, just to reach work on time.

Even the recent incident on the Pune Expressway is a reminder of where we stand. After a tanker overturned, traffic was blocked for nearly 32 hours, leaving thousands stranded without clarity or timely relief. When people are left stuck for such long hours on one of the country's most important expressways, it raises a serious question: Are we only building big infrastructure, or are we also building the systems needed to manage it?

For many citizens, commuting is not routine; it is daily stress. It drains energy before the workday begins and leaves people exhausted by the time they return home.

No one opposes economic growth. It brings jobs and opportunities. But can a state truly call itself prosperous if its people remain frustrated by basic civic failures? We speak endlessly about GDP, but we rarely measure commute time, pedestrian safety, or everyday convenience with the same seriousness.

According to a reply to an RTI application filed by mid-day, between 2013 and 2021, 4514 lives were lost to road accidents in Mumbai, a number that should deeply trouble any city aspiring to global status. Even more alarming is that over half of them, 2326, were pedestrians. They were not speeding or driving recklessly; they were simply walking to work, to the station, to the market, or back home after a long day. This is not just a statistic. It is a clear reminder that while we speak of economic expansion, we are still struggling to make our most basic public spaces safe for ordinary citizens.

A one-trillion-dollar economy sounds impressive. But what is its real meaning if citizens remain exhausted and unhappy? Economic growth without livability is like building a skyscraper on a weak foundation.

True development is not only about flyovers and financial targets. It is about safe footpaths, reliable public transport, and roads repaired before the monsoon. It is about disciplined traffic, accountable civic systems, and consistent enforcement.

Many global cities are admired not just because they are wealthy, but because they are liveable. They understand that economic progress and quality of life must move together.

Around fifteen years ago, some policymakers spoke about turning Mumbai into the next Shanghai, a global financial powerhouse. That promise captured the imagination but never fully materialised. The lesson is clear: grand comparisons and ambitious slogans mean little without consistent execution and visible improvement in daily life.

Maharashtra has the capacity to achieve both growth and happiness. The one-trillion-dollar vision should not be abandoned, but broadened, measured not only in crores and billions, but in safer streets, shorter commutes and better civic discipline.

Otherwise, we may win the economic race, but as peace of mind slips away, we will be left celebrating prosperity on paper while citizens endure relentless pressure on the streets.

Sanjeev Shivadekar is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @SanjeevShivadek

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The views expressed in this column are the individual's and don't represent those of the paper