How do we coast along?

The coastal road project construction in South Mumbai

It had been over half-an-hour since Lady Flora had parked herself at their favourite bench inside Horniman Circle Garden, as she waited for her friend, Sir PM. It was unlike him to keep her waiting. The sultry weather didn't help calm her patience levels. ‘I hope he isn't in some kind of mess,' she wondered.

Mess was an understatement. Sir PM was stuck in a massive jam on his way back to SoBo after visiting a cousin in Worli. By the time he reached, he was almost out of breath. "I am…I am…sooo sorry, Lady. The traffic, it was…" His friend was barely able to decipher the words that came out of his mouth. All her wrath had disappeared. "It's okay, Pheroze. Here, sip on some homemade lemonade," she tried to calm her friend down.

A gentle breeze helped relax Sir PM a bit. "So tell me, Pheroze…what caused your delay? Why are you looking so upset? I hope you weren't chased by hoodlums, or had to escape from a riot," Lady Flora enquired. "Oh no, no, my Lady. Thankfully, it was none of that. I had never imagined that our dear city by the sea, the seven-island dream would be under threat. I had ventured to Worli after what seemed like ages, and what do I see? Boulders and barricades that touched the sky and that carried the words ‘Inconvenience is regretted'. What does that mean? Are we supposed to sit back and allow those stunning, panoramic views of our coast to be blocked out as this prized project alters our coastline forever?" sighed Sir PM.

"But tell me something, Pheroze, isn't this because of that Coastal Road Project? My sources tell me this will take a while," she asked her friend. "Of course, it is because of that mega plan. But look at what cost it is metamorphosing our shores!" he thundered. "Surely, my current bosses and their bosses would've thought this out. I mean, there is merit to their argument - to decongest the city -- but at what cost? I had to negotiate miles of traffic on foot, simply because of the obstruction caused by this work; and as I looked around, all I could see were miles and miles of barriers. It wasn't a pleasant sight because the great Arabian Sea, that remains the pride of our city, a sight that brings its residents so much joy and respite from their cooped-up lives inside matchbox apartments, is no longer in view. We might be termed a sea-facing city, but we are certainly not going to see it for a long while. I saw the transformation everywhere - from Marine Drive all the way to cousin Zubin's home at Worli Sea Face!"

Sir PM's friend was listening intently to her friend. She also realised that the pandemic had kept her confined to a tiny radius, as a result of which she missed out on developments like this. "So, Pheroze, what does this mean for Bombaywallahs? Are they destined to never be able to see the sea again or at least for a long while, until this grandiose project is completed?" Sir PM took a long pause, and then said, "Well, that seems to be the case. A lot is at stake. Residents' groups from Marine Drive to Bandra have been crying hoarse over the compromises that have happened due to the work that will forever transform the topography along the western seafront of the city. While the ‘world-class' plan is supposed to ease Bombay's traffic woes, I am beginning to wonder at what cost? Just the other Dr Viegas was upset after he had a long chat with his old-time Koli fisherman friend. Their livelihood and their original homes - the koliwadas - are under huge threat, as construction activity obstructs their boats and also the ecosystem that they depend on. Marine wildlife experts are also concerned by the acute effect on the marine flora and fauna."

Lady Flora recalled a chat she had overheard from her vantage point. A well-informed tourist was telling his companion that according to a global report, landmarks like Haji Ali, and parts of Marine Drive could go underwater by 2050 due to effects of climate change. "Imagine, we are already staring at a grim scenario due to our proximity to the sea, and whatever you've told me so far, doesn't add up to a pleasant scenario," rued Lady Flora.

"Bombay seems to be in no-man's land. Will we ever live to see the day when this project is fructified? And even so, what will be left of the original city? How much of this reclamation will affect its very existence?" wondered Sir PM, to which his friend signed off with a warning, "Let's hope the sea continues to be patient with its beloved muse, Bombay. Else, we'll be in big trouble."

mid-day's Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city's sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana

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