Big economy, small comfort

GDP is important No state can progress without economic growth investment and rising output Maharashtrarsquos ambition of becoming a trilliondollar economy reflects that aspiration But development cannot be measured by numbers alone If the journey creates a ldquobig economyrdquo but leaves citizens with ldquosmall comfortrdquo then growth remains incomplete Alongside GDP we must also ask whether daily life is becoming safer smoother and less stressful for ordinary peopleA NITI Aayog report has set an ambitious goal for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region MMR to double its GDP from R12 lakh crore to R26 lakh crore by 2030 and transform Mumbai and nearby districts Thane Palghar and Raigad into a global economic hub The region already contributes nearly onethird of Maharashtrarsquos GDP and will be central to the statersquos trilliondollar dreamBut step outside the boardrooms and glass towers and reality tells a different story Lakhs of people spend hours stuck in traffic every day An international traffic study found that the average time to travel 10 kilometres in Mumbai during peak hours increased to 2926 minutes in 2024 from 2120 minutes in 2023Roads remain dug up for months Potholes return every monsoon Traffic discipline is weak and enforcement is inconsistent Illegal encroachments take over footpaths and public spaces making even walking unsafe in many areasNo doubt projects like the Metro and new bridges have improved connectivity and reduced pressure on certain stretches But the ground reality still tells another story Footpaths remain encroached by hawkers handcarts and eatery stalls Garages food stalls and illegally parked vehicles occupy service roads along the Eastern and Western Express Highways In parts of Link Road public space meant for smooth movement is taken over by usedcar dealers and roadside businesses Infrastructure may be expanding but civic discipline and enforcement continue to lagSo overcrowded are our local trains that many people cannot even enter them and some risk their lives falling from moving coaches just to reach work on timeEven the recent incident on the Pune Expressway is a reminder of where we stand After a tanker overturned traffic was blocked for nearly 32 hours leaving thousands stranded without clarity or timely relief When people are left stuck for such long hours on one of the countryrsquos most important expressways it raises a serious question Are we only building big infrastructure or are we also building the systems needed to manage itFor many citizens commuting is not routine it is daily stress It drains energy before the workday begins and leaves people exhausted by the time they return homeNo one opposes economic growth It brings jobs and opportunities But can a state truly call itself prosperous if its people remain frustrated by basic civic failures We speak endlessly about GDP but we rarely measure commute time pedestrian safety or everyday convenience with the same seriousnessAccording to a reply to an RTI application filed by midday between 2013 and 2021 4514 lives were lost to road accidents in Mumbai a number that should deeply trouble any city aspiring to global status Even more alarming is that over half of them 2326 were pedestrians They were not speeding or driving recklessly they were simply walking to work to the station to the market or back home after a long day This is not just a statistic It is a clear reminder that while we speak of economic expansion we are still struggling to make our most basic public spaces safe for ordinary citizensA onetrilliondollar economy sounds impressive But what is its real meaning if citizens remain exhausted and unhappy Economic growth without livability is like building a skyscraper on a weak foundationTrue development is not only about flyovers and financial targets It is about safe footpaths reliable public transport and roads repaired before the monsoon It is about disciplined traffic accountable civic systems and consistent enforcementMany global cities are admired not just because they are wealthy but because they are liveable They understand that economic progress and quality of life must move togetherAround fifteen years ago some policymakers spoke about turning Mumbai into the next Shanghai a global financial powerhouse That promise captured the imagination but never fully materialised The lesson is clear grand comparisons and ambitious slogans mean little without consistent execution and visible improvement in daily lifeMaharashtra has the capacity to achieve both growth and happiness The onetrilliondollar vision should not be abandoned but broadened measured not only in crores and billions but in safer streets shorter commutes and better civic disciplineOtherwise we may win the economic race but as peace of mind slips away we will be left celebrating prosperity on paper while citizens endure relentless pressure on the streetsSanjeev Shivadekar is political editor midday He tweets SanjeevShivadekSend your feedback to mailbagmiddaycomThe views expressed in this column are the individualrsquos and donrsquot represent those of the paper