Maximise the existing space within the maximum city with the Layered Transport System. The Layered Transport System or LTS is a solution I designed over 9 years ago. For solving Mumbai’s increasing local transport woes. With this in place we will need neither coastal roads, nor another sea link, as we will be able to maximise the existing space within the maximum city.
The Layered Transport System or LTS model, will work with the railway station as the hub of the integrated transport and travel eco-system. Adding the East & West connectivity to this approach will make Mumbai livable :-)
According to me, many architects's, town planners - this coastal road project is a complete waste of resources, and tax-payers money meant to leave a lasting impression of the political masters on Mumbai's memory.
We can quadruple the efficiency of public transport, by just making a 6 lane 'Hover Road' right above all the railway lines, which cover every inch of Greater Mumbai region. And a Layered Transport System (LTS) for last-mile connectivity.
This 'Hover Road' will ease traffic for West and East immediately, with current plan in 10 years East will need another coastal road.
However, as Mumbai's development is controlled by its land mafia, it will spoil plans of unlocking East in a decade, with NPT's 5000 acres being unlocked by someone.
With no need to acquire free land along the shore, no need to spend on some of the most expensive infrastructure construction, no need to ruin the view of the bay for the people who spend millions of dollars on cramped homes. It's seems like a win win for citizens. However, the Government's apathy which has brought this country to the state it is in, continues, as cutting across political lines - politicians are just the same. Petty, bickering fools.
If you study it in detail, this is the biggest grab and infrastructure scam in Mumbai. As land along the coast is inhabited by jhuggis/ slums or fishermen villages. Both classes have no land papers. So, who is the government paying for the land? I know the answer, yet, that's not the point.
We all as conscious Indian's need to stop glorifying acts of hidden supression, just because it comes in the name of development.
We all need to question, what does development cost us, not in mere dollars, in terms of cost to nature, cost to air quality, cost to life expectancy and beyond.
Alas, that is not happening.