Multiplicity of Authorities: Need for a single Democratic Body
Is Mumbai’s democracy at stake with fragmented governance and weakened accountability?
Greater Mumbai’s local governance, established under the Bombay Municipal Act of 1888, predates the 74th Amendment Act of 1992, which mandated elected representatives for urban planning decisions. The lack of a unified, accountable structure in Mumbai’s planning leads to issues in coordination and inefficient development. Multiple authorities, such as the MMRDA, MSRDC, BMC, and others, oversee different aspects of the city’s infrastructure, often causing jurisdictional overlaps, policy conflicts, and delays. For example, projects like the ongoing Metro and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link suffer from coordination challenges, leading to redundant work and delays.
The fragmentation of planning responsibilities has several negative consequences, including a lack of accountability, poor disaster preparedness, and ineffective service delivery. This lack of coordination has profound implications for public welfare, particularly in terms of safety, urban infrastructure, and long-term planning.
At UCM, we firmly believe that a unified planning authority for Greater Mumbai is essential for the city’s future. We advocate for the consolidation of planning powers to ensure a more cohesive, accountable, and citizen-centric approach to urban development.