Mumbai’s draft development plan (DP) for the next 20 years has created a storm. The philosophy adopted by the planners, to cater to the growing population of the metro, has evoked mixed views. This is exactly the opposite of an earlier plan, which primarily aimed at restricting the city’s population to 75 lakh.

The opinions coming in from various quarters have perplexed the city’s ordinary citizens, who only expect planners to get them affordable homes, open spaces, amenities like health care, education, recreation and public transport. No government or civic official or public representative has come up with a satisfying answer as yet, even as the people who have applied their minds to the proposal have started submitting suggestions and objections before it is sent for BMC’s approval, and then to the state government for final nod.