The larger crisis of medical students returning from Ukraine also reflects the skewed growth graph of our cities and urban hubs, where overall balanced growth has been lacking, leading to focus only on built infrastructure. Mumbai and its neighbouring cities are no exception. Though the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) was expected to prepare regional plans, conceive, promote and monitor key projects for developing new growth centres around Mumbai, the target cities still count low on the human development index.

The MMRDA is currently responsible for the balanced development of the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which is spread over 6,328 sq km. It consists of nine municipal corporations namely Greater Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivli, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi-Nizamapur, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar and Panvel; and nine municipal councils comprising Ambarnath, Kulgaon-Badalapur, Matheran, Karjat, Khopoli, Pen, Uran, Alibaug and Palghar, along with more than 1,000 villages in Thane, Raigad and Palghar districts. “The focus has always been on big-ticket infra projects like metros, roads and bridges and connectivity to match the consistent new building complexes coming around MMR. But with so much connectivity and housing, where will the people go for their needs? Social infrastructure is completely lacking and the existing limited schools and hospitals, and other such facilities get to arm-twist the common man,” said Ashok Datar, chairman of Mumbai Environment Social Network (MESN), who has been following up with the MMRDA on these issues for several years now.