[sustran] Re: World Bank loan for MUTP(2)

[Bina CBalakrishnan]

Hi again,

The following is part 2- and the last, on the subject.
Regards,
Bina


K.M:- Mumbai has the world's highest road fatality rate, 
pedestrians forming 81% of victims. Incidence of cardio-vascular 
diseases is 30% higher than the national average, thanks to poor 
air quality and auto exhaust. About 7 years ago the Bank team had 
visited Mumbai for MUTP. We took the traffic expert from a Bank 
Consulting Agency to a flyover site. She opined against flyover. 
Concerned Bank officials forced the consulting agency to remove 
the expert from service. The Bank officially withdrew from the 
project in 1997 when we showed the Team as to how flyovers under 
construction would foul the MUTP II. We had expected that the Bank 
would not revive it until the government took measures to correct 
the damage caused by 50 and odd flyovers/elevated roads built in 
Mumbai, (The MSRDC is foisting many more flyovers in other 
cities). Now if the Bank supports road subprojects, it would be 
construed to have blessed flyovers.

Walter:-  You feel that the road elements included should have 
sidewalks, as should many other streets in the project area, and 
that they are required in national policy and not being 
implemented. This is a valid concern and the World Bank SHOULD be 
an ally on this issue, given the statements in their new Urban 
Transport Strategy. These comments on the actual proposed designs 
being hostile to pedestrians the project managers at the World 
Bank should be able to address. I have forwarded your concerns to 
a few people inside the Bank.

K.M:- Majority of Mumbai's roads do not have pavements.

Bina;- Correction, Mr. Mehta. Majority of Mumbai's roads have 
pavements that are encroached upon. And as I have mentioned 
earlier, the World Bank HAS agreed to allocate funds for pavements 
and foot over bridges.

K.M:_ There are unpaved sidewalks which car drivers use for 
parking or overtaking from wrong side. This results in pedestrians 
being hit and higher SPM and other pollution levels. The MMRDA has 
not carried out studies of existing air quality levels as well as 
not estimated likely increase in these levels due to 
implementation of the MUTP. In fact even no count of vehicles 
plying in as well as visiting Mumbai has been taken. Space below 
flyovers already constructed is given over for car parking in 
crowded areas where parking was not allowed earlier. Glaring case 
is the JJ Hospital to Crawford Market where the longest 3 km 
elevated road is under construction. This is one of the mosted 
crowded area having over 100,000 resident density per sq km and 
visitor density of addtional 300,000 during working hours. 
Pavements are cut down for carriageway. Space below the elevated 
road is used for parking estimated 500 vehicles. 25 bus routes 
having over 50 buses in one km length during peak hours suffer. 
Both side parking is allowed on single entry roads (a few such 
roads closed to BEST buses). A NGO moved the Bombay High Court on 
pavements and got the Court directive on the Municipal 
Corporation, a partner of the MUTP, to build pavements where not 
existing and restore where in bad state. Yet not a single pavement 
is built or restored.

Walter:-  Have the railway improvements in the loan been 
completely worked out or are they still under negotiation? If 
still under negotiation, do we NGOs have any credible rail experts 
who could voice a professional opinion on some of these issues 
that would be seen as credible by the World Bank and the MMRDA? 
Agreed'

Bina :-To answer Walter's question, yes the rail improvements have 
been completely worked out between the railways and the World 
Bank.

K.M:- During the consultation, the MMRDA took a stand that the 
MUTP as presented was frozen and citizens cannot propose any 
amendment. Railway component was never presented to citizens 
before.

Bina:- There have been several public presentations and workshops 
on this project, where you yourself have been very visibly 
present. Also, if you will please check their web site 
www.mmrdamumbai.org , you will get any further information that 
you need.

K.M:- Our detailed suggestions including to the Railway Minister 
 from time to time were never acknowledged, what to talk of 
considered. In the consultation, we drew attention to some 
anomalies. Bank officials remained silent. The MMRDA has sent 
reply to some by saying `the Railways may consider them in future' 
or `it is upto the Railways to consider'. Signals are that though 
the debt is being created on citizens, they have no right to 
suggest. We have amongst us colleagues who have worked 
consistently and acquired credibility however the MMRDA and 
authorities set them aside. The Save Bombay Committee has 
invariably got issues studied and provided workable alternatives 
also in the railway sector but of no avail. Even one Minister 
knowing me very well could not get the railway officers to discuss 
the proposals in the larger interests. Proposals made by us even 
at present deserve in depth consideration for improving 
commutation conditions. We are ready to discuss the proposals in 
depth with the Bank.

Walter:-  A big focus of the World Bank has been to get this new 
institutional structure where the municipality has more control 
over commuter rail and the national railway has less. I don't know 
the status of this institutional change. Do you know -if this new 
institution has been created, and - is it in the long run going to 
help improve commuter rail services?

K.M:- Probably you have in mind the new joint venture regional 
railway company in 50:50 partnership of the national Rly Dept and 
the Maharashtra Govt set up last year. The officers are all active 
or retired railway officers.

Bina:- You are probably referring to the very active Mumbai Rail 
Vikas Corporation (MRVC). This is certainly not composed of 
retired officers. The MRVC is manned by officers from the Indian 
Railway Service, all of them very  senior, and some of them have 
put in over 30 years of service with the Railways in various 
capacities. I think the MRVC is therefore in very safe, very 
experienced hands.
As for functioning only for the levying of taxes, the MRVC has 
been able to increase the central funding from Rs.40 Crores to Rs. 
180 Crores just for the new Borivli- Virar line. MUTP-Phase I has 
already been submitted to the Railway Board, and they are 
confident of obtaining the sanction for the projects in the first 
phase in the current year itself. In addition, several new items 
have also been sent to the Planning Commission for approval. The 
MRVC have also made certain commitments to the World Bank 
regarding improvements in the quality of the service provided, and 
the passenger carrying capacity, by increasing the length of the 
trains to 12 cars from 9 cars. Several of the trains are already 
12 cars, if you have cared to notice. Increasing to 12 cars 
obviously entails increasing the length of the platforms, and this 
is also in progress. Also, it follows that there will have to be 
improvements in the signalling system- which is also in progress. 
The other rail components of the MUTP can be viewed from the web 
site.

K.M:- A retired not so senior rly officer acts as advisor to the 
MMRDA. The new company pushes proposals formulated by Rly Dept. A 
few MUTP proposals are implemented and others under 
implementation. The national Rly Board pursues them so much so 
that some of the MUTP proposals are included in the annual 
national Rly budget that the Rly Minister presented in the 
national Parliament last Monday. The activities of the new company 
are restricted to levying of taxes on Mumbai commuters that was 
not legally possible under the old set up. Municipality has no 
role in the set up. No window for citizens to present viable 
alternatives. We would be willing to explain citizen proposals 
without any bias again if the Bank can organise. This is
essential. We would appreciate if you can get the Bank to discuss 
the proposals for public rail and road transport. We look forward 
to the Sustran Steering Committee and Sustran Members support. 
Mumbai suburban railways carry 40% of total journeys provided by 
the Indian Railways throughout India. Quantum improvement in the 
suburban commutation in Mumbai region can bring all round relief. 
Best wishes and good luck in your efforts. A new Bank team is in 
Mumbai and we are
meeting it on 4 March. We shall try to remain sober.
Kisan Mehta and Priya Salvi