Let's put our heads together for "A Better Tomorrow"

Do you guys remember the boards we frequently saw during our commute in Mumbai that read, “Work in Progress - Inconvenience Regretted. Bear with us for a Better Tomorrow”.

The time taken to reach from Point A to Point B in 2004 was X hrs.

The time taken to travel the same distance in 2006 was X + 50% hrs. 

After all, we were “bearing” with the authorities for a better tomorrow.

In 2009 it was 2X hrs. Considering the number of cars that got added to the roads in those years.

After a whopping 10 – 12 years, all the projects were completed and now it finally takes the same bloody X hrs it originally took in 2004. We live in an illusion that we saved half the time.

In reality, we are still struggling to find the “Better Tomorrow” after all the bearing? Add to that the fact that we have an expanded city where people criss-cross from “Western” to “Central” and to “Harbour” to “South Mumbai (SoBo)”.

It’s just amazing how it all still functions. 

What gives me the jitters is the time it will take to travel the same distance 5 years from now.

With the newly added infrastructure, the people who use public transport like Trains and Metro, save a little time but comfort is grossly elusive and they still secretly possess the desire to buy their own vehicle some day and eventually spill out on the already clogged arteries of the city.

What are the basics that each one of us is striving for in today’s modern gadget driven society?

Time, Health, Environment and a Robust Economy.

Unfortunately, neither of them can be bought off the shelves in a supermarket nor can it be ordered online. But it's possible and in a fairly quick turnaround. (Refer "The Idea" below).

The above comes with a change in one’s and society’s lifestyle. In an attempt to achieve this, we've seen many cities toy with ideas like:

1)      Dedicated lane for Public Transport (BRTS).

2)      Heavy penalizing for people using private cars (Singapore).

3)      Speed lanes for car-pool vehicles (North America)

4)      Work From Home concepts etc. (North America and Europe)

Each of the above has its merits and demerits.

We've also learnt that there is ALWAYS room for improvement.

With today’s thrust on technology and with clogged cities, hurting fuel costs and tolls (adding salt to injury), is it time we look at an alternate model?

Obviously this is an idea and needs thorough study and analysis. But it does look promising to me and should be evaluated by the specialists.

With the evolving technology, it’s NOT impossible to create the below model. We just need a little thought and a lot of commitment from the Corporates and Authorities. That’s too much to ask for, but let’s get the ball rolling.

The Idea:

Create work hubs every 5 kms with standard set of amenities and facilities . They can be offered in different tiers based on the businesses that would be using it. It’d be ideal if it were simply STANDARD, but I’m sure there are enough snobs who would ask for specials.

If I live in Zone 1 of a city, I should be able to go in to any of the closest hubs within 5 kms, log in to my office system with all the necessary technological security, work and get out.

Let’s give this a little more clarity. Today, we have these corporate parks and malls in different shapes and sizes. Quite a few of them are unoccupied and are turning into ghost towns anyway. Instead, why not create a standard Corporate Park with a certain number of ecologically viable and permissible floors with some basic features made available. Security at the Gates. A common Food Court, Parking for visiting Dignitaries (if applicable). I-Cards with Turnstile gates to ensure there is no intrusion. Connectivity with world-class speed. Ports for people to plug in their own devices (laptops / tablets). Special rooms that can be hired by anyone for specific meetings (depending on number of participants).

A gym for the users who would want to use them.

By doing all of the above,

1)      We don’t clog the roads

2)      We save a lot of fuel and we may as well walk or bicycle to work

3)      We save a lot of time and heartburn

4)      Stress on the infrastructure is reduced dramatically

5)      Environment is spared with all the reduced carbon footprint

A Zone 2, 3 and 4 user can log into their respective zonal hubs (within the 5 kms radius).

With video calling, and a host of other facilities, it’s possible to have face to face meetings as well.

Any job profile that necessitates to physically travel should be allowed and they could do it easily without the crowd. 

We can then probably dream of having a lane dedicated for emergency vehicles.

Today, that’s a fairly neglected area of concern. Not to forget the pedestrians' right to walk.

The Project authorities need not worry about lost means of income. If one is a visionary, it is easy to see that all the families who NOW have time and a little bit of extra income at their disposal would want to SPEND on family time. The income will still exist (in fact swell) but just from different sources.

Let’s put our heads together to make this dream come true. It doesn't have to be this model. If this model sparks another path-breaking idea, I'd be happier.

It’s my desperate plea on behalf of our future generations to please look beyond and help each other “Live” instead of merely “co-exist.”