Mumbai’s Streets Under Scrutiny: Viral Video Rekindles Debate on Who the City Is Built For
Mumbai’s Streets Under Scrutiny: Viral Video Rekindles Debate on Who the City Is Built For
Public frustration over Mumbai’s everyday infrastructure has once again spilled into the spotlight, as conversations around mobility, access and civic priorities grow louder in the wake of the recent BMC elections. From uneven pavements to chronic traffic jams, the way the city functions on a daily basis is no longer just a policy discussion — it has become a lived reality that many residents are openly questioning.
At the heart of this renewed debate is a video circulating widely on social media, featuring a Mumbai-based woman who bluntly critiques what she sees as the city’s misplaced planning priorities. Speaking from a public location, she questions why civic authorities continue to invest heavily in flyovers, metro corridors and car-oriented projects, while basic pedestrian needs remain largely ignored.
She highlights a striking contrast: nearly half of Mumbai’s daily journeys are made on foot, yet she claims that walking infrastructure receives barely a fraction of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s overall budget. “Most people in this city walk every day, but the system behaves as if they don’t exist,” she remarks, pointing to crumbling or missing footpaths across neighbourhoods.
According to her, the idea of transforming Mumbai into a car-friendly city defies basic logic. With an estimated population density of around 22,000 people per square kilometre, she argues that the city simply does not have the physical space to support car-heavy movement. She explains that a single car carrying one person occupies almost three times the space needed by a pedestrian, making large-scale car dependence unrealistic.
BMC – in Mumbai
— Roads of Mumbai (@RoadsOfMumbai) January 22, 2026
Pedestrian first policy ❌
Car first policy ✔️
pic.twitter.com/sua5MZaVqK
Despite this, she notes that expensive flyover projects continue to be planned primarily for the 10 to 15 percent of commuters who use private vehicles. “We’re spending massive amounts on flyovers that serve a tiny minority,” she says, adding that architect Pankaj Joshi, who has worked closely with the BMC, has previously pointed out that parked cars — not street vendors — take up the bulk of footpath space. In several parts of the city, she claims, pavements vanish entirely under parked vehicles, forcing pedestrians onto busy roads.
The response online was swift and largely supportive. Many users said the video echoed their everyday struggles. “She put into words what most of us experience daily,” one comment read. Another wrote, “Just try walking from the station to your office once — that’s all the proof you need.” Others summed up the imbalance more sharply, saying, “Drivers get flyovers, walkers get broken roads.” Several viewers appreciated that the argument was backed by numbers rather than emotional outbursts.
Numerous commenters also shared personal accounts of navigating blocked, damaged or non-existent footpaths, often having no choice but to walk amid fast-moving traffic.
The timing of the video has added to its impact. With the BJP-led alliance securing a decisive win in the BMC elections, focus has now shifted to the mayoral contest. The BJP emerged as the single largest party with 89 seats, while the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction won 29. Having crossed the majority threshold, attention has turned to who will take charge of the civic body.
This time, the mayor’s post is reserved for a woman from the general category, a factor that is expected to influence internal negotiations and leadership decisions.
