METRO-LOG: EAST WEST DISCORD.

The ongoing infrastructure development aspiration has taken few noteworthy steps. The first being eastern freeway from Indian Oil Nagar to  SVP road, near Pricess Dock, the second being Santacruz East to Chembur Link road via Kurla and third one is Mumbai first Metro Line (Versova- Ghatkopar)

The most sought out project of Mumbai Metro finally began with interesting statistic:

- Began in 2009

- Total cost appx. 2400 crore.

- 11.4 kilometer of stretch with 12 stations.

- Carrier capacity expected 6 lacs/ day.

The most important part of metro line is that first time the urban development department attempting to address the east-west commuter travel. The city development has always been north to south, resulting in peculiar land use characteristics, directing the development of the city and its real estate value namely in:

- administrative system
- production system
- institutional system
- living & living/ working system 

The interaction between transport and land use systems was never a object of research or never had any empirical model for integrated approach hence the real estate value was naturally integrated with the accessibility, The demographic data base or decentralization of economic activity has recent history as far as planning mass rapid transit system concerns. 

However the  21 minute one way journey reveals the east west discord in its urbanscape. The characteristics of metro journey states the unusual & unknown account of east-west transect. The west end station, Versova know for its cosmopolitan neighborhood of middle income group and collector land with similar gentry. The D.N Nagar, a TP scheme known for low income group with distinct typology, while Azad nagar station has MHADA and some private society amounting to similar income group. As it depart the Azad nagar station towards Andheri station the landscape begins to change to mix use and commercial activity within landlord properties. The east has slowly began to transform into high end commercial & administrative activity almost homogenizing with the WEH, Chakala & Airport Station. The later part of journey is generally know to the most by aerial view. The large slum pocket and distant high rise development across the hills. The existential order of an unregulated pockets reveals unknown territory and  strange discord. The new mass transit system revels the sharp contrast of most designated mobility versus un designated reality. 

The important question that needs immediate speculation, i:e what kind of imagination that will direct the development of east-west corridor. The serious research body of work required to understand the deeper meaning into this vast reality, instead of focusing of port land or fringes. The plan of infrastructure will shape the notion of landscape in future & we need to give critical consideration to its relationships.

DEATH OF PLANNING COMMISSION

The Urban-ism is often spoken in line of inclusive accent, however in democratic India; the inclusiveness principally represented the view of liberal elite, assuming the authority on aspiration of proletariat mass.  The most triumphant political transformation in recent time, the dramatic & historic change at center sees the surfacing of yet another class, that so far lay principally disregarded within the fold of middle class, transcending the electoral paradigm , perhaps largely described by non-English speaking mass aspired impatiently to move from the clutches of margins. The argument may not receive accolade from many quarters, but it has built class barriers in India. The divide is deeper and culturally widening. The definition of liberals and narrow-minded has drawn archetypical characteristics & world viewed on our planning mission and urban development.  

The group that dwells outside the definition is self proclaimed intellects, loading themselves with blocks of gender, class, region, community and religion with superficial focus & subject of examination as a playing field. Such views on equity on planning process pushes the other margin issues to further marginalization. Attempting to address urban problem with such framework, the worldview of liberals have rendered the cultural mainstream as illegitimate process, while every instinct of such class is branded as communal and chauvinistic.

The liberal seeks for injustice and discriminations, while from cultural perspectives these issues are margins and alien. The liberal devours the cultural transect into moral surrender. The urban India is far from equity and inclusive, drawing political industry and policy makers, creating patronage and antagonist. The imported ideals of inclusive are becoming vehicle of local cynicism & platitudes. The planning commission to large cultural mainstreams is a symbol of power and self. The metaphorically the institutions and academics are trapped within the same framework, evoking rage among the passive majority. 

The planning commission has largely perceived as elite affair and window to global world, transcending nation into notion. The democracy dancing on its inclusive tunes, ideals that perhaps may not have cultural resonance with vast Indian reality.

SYNCHROMESHED URBANISM

"Cities are like electrical transformers: they increase tension, accelerate, exchanges, and are endlessly churning human lives" Fernand Braudel, (1967), Civilisation Matérielle et Capitalisme (cited in Paquout, 2000, 83)

Very often Cities manifest, distilled & condensed activities, suddenly in jerks and revelation. This phenomena often remains incomprehensible. The F.C road at Pune is an example of such phenomena of sudden splurge of activities, in sharp contrast to its surrounding and context. The networks of several activities are completely in discord to its (activity) history of evolution and non-congenial in its inter dependencies. The entire stretch of F.C Road, houses the food places, high end shopping, electronics, apparels, confectioneries & also repair works for dated technological gadget. Such expressions are vigorously percolating through the soft facade of private houses into the main street, adding into the splinter character of the public realm. The long, seamless stretch of shopping, array of parked bikes and bursting of people of all age groups defies the single point DNA of the place.

The synchromesh is an automotive terminology , where its elements are always in mesh and propelling state or free. The constant mesh with its generator as armature, corresponding or adjusting all the time. The F.C road phenomena is analogically simulated through such automotive working, where its parts are networked, adjusting itself to pressure that city exerts and as a result leaving some pockets empty while some spaces are charged or free to respond on its will, leaving visual arbitrariness yet inclusively responsive.