This is in reference to the article written in an Indian newspaper about the development of Mumbai - regarded as
Shanghai of India.Welcometo Mumbai, the
city which is craving to be the Shanghai of India. Right fromthe members of the cabinet to the Prime Minister of India, everyone wants totransform this
small city to a living heaven. Already a commercial andfinancial capital, Mumbai cannot get enough of it. From Bollywood to cricket,finance to fashion, Mumbai has it all to be a great city to live in. Or is it?Let's take a closer look at Shanghai.From a small port city in the 1990s to a commercial behemoth, Shanghai has developed so fast than any othercities in the world history. Tall sky-scrapers, 8 lane roads, ports,world-class airport, Maglev trains and a distinguished landmark make shanghai awonderful city. Shanghaiis transforming not only itself, but the whole
country, its
people, thoughtsand values. But if a city like shanghai can be developed so aesthetically in aclosed communist country, then why is it taking so
long for Mumbai to do thesame?The answer is : Politics and Democracy. Indian politicians are well known fortheir utmost laziness when it comes to reforms and developments. They areeither too
busy building their own wealth or busy throwing chairs at each otherin the parliament. But even though they want to transform Mumbai, they arefinding it extremely difficult to do so. Mumbai has developed without plan fortoo long. It is over-crowded and chaotic. There is absolutely no space forgrowth. Unlike China, youcannot throw people out somewhere or use other forced measures in India to buildsomething. This is a free and democratic society where each citizen gets hisshout heard of.Therefore, one must think of some other plans to develop Mumbai. But time isrunning out and if we you waiting to see 'The Shanghai of India', well, it isstill a long way to go.----Santa Morgan.
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