Transportation in Mumbai: a Strategic Perspective

Part 2

Chapter 11

Transportation : A Strategic

Perspective

11.1

11.1.1

11.2

11.2.1

Introduction

Transport infrastructure is of key importance in determining the land use patterns.

Efficient transport provides mobility to citizens that is essential for development of

skilled urban labour market. Historically the sea port and the railways have been the

most important inputs to the phenomenal growth of Mumbai. As this sector is very

sensitive to technological developments and behavioural changes a long term end

state plan cannot be meaningfully prepared. What is necessary is to identify a broad

strategy within which detailed short term investment programmes could be developed.

Regional Plan - 1973

Prior to formulation of Regional Plan a detailed road transport plan was prepared by

an American transport Consultant in 1962 for Greater Mumbai. The Wilbur Smith

proposals included elaborate network of freeways mainly for private road transport in

accordance with the then prevailing state of the art. The proposals did not take into

account the importance of public transport and did not examine the possibilities of

changing the land use pattern to manage the travel demand. In order to supplement

the Wilbur Smith study the traffic cell of the Town Planning Department (Govt. of

Maharashtra) undertook a study of Mass Transportation in Mumbai Metropolitan Region

in 1967-68. The study noted the possibilities of augmenting mass transportation

capacities within the metropolitan area by

1.

augmenting the carrying capacity of the existing surface transport

system;

2.

providing the additional links to the surface system; and

3.

provision of a new rapid transit system in the form of an underground

railway, mono rail etc.

The measures in group 1) which later came to be called as ‘optimisation’ and included

remodeling of Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Station, improved signaling, replacement

of level crossings and running of 12...