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Ashwini Deshpande
Pranil Chitre
Anaushka Goyal
Prerna Yadav

Abstract

Mumbai, amongst the most densely populated cities in India, offers an alarming ratio of 1.24 square meters of public open space per capita (MCGM, 2016, p. 70). The negligence in the provision and protection of public open spaces in the city’s recent Development Plan 2034, further exacerbates this deficiency. The lack of comprehensive guidelines and policy framework for efficient tracking, monitoring and management makes it extremely difficult to ensure the safety of these breathing spaces in the city. Public open spaces are further endangered owing to ill maintenance and heavy encroachments. The research underlying this paper outlines a strategic framework for developing a digital inventory of open spaces designated by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM). This framework is intended to facilitate the management and monitoring of these areas. By annotating descriptive, quantitative, and analytical parameters, the study begins with an exhaustive ground survey of around 634 public open spaces in the suburban areas of Mumbai. The research critically evaluates the collated survey data and employs a GIS mapping methodology for geospatial analysis. Finally, it aims to make the inventory readily available to all stakeholders and citizens through digital tools and platforms that also allow real-time engagement with local communities. The focus of this paper is on the role of digital tools in creating a repository available on an open-source platform that can help identify issues with public open spaces and encourage public participation in preserving and improving open spaces in the city with respect to health, safety, and comfort. The database created based on the survey focuses on governance, accessibility, safety, encroachments, and design aspects. The findings from the study will help navigate the issues of public open spaces in dense urban conglomerations like Mumbai.

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How to Cite
Deshpande, A., Chitre, P., Goyal, A. and Yadav, P. (2024) “A Digital Blueprint of Breathing Spaces in Mumbai”, The Journal of Public Space, 9(2), pp. 31–54. doi: 10.32891/jps.v9i2.1784.
Section
Academic
Author Biographies

Ashwini Deshpande, NAGAR

Ashwini is an architect, urban researcher, and aspiring historian based in Mumbai, India. With a master’s degree in Architectural History and Theory from CEPT University, Ahmedabad, and an undergraduate degree in architecture from Mumbai University, her research combines contemporary urban issues with historical inquiry. Her past roles include work as a Junior Archivist and as a teaching associate at CEPT University. Currently an Associate Director at ‘NAGAR’ in Mumbai, Ashwini’s work involves addressing the environmental issues surrounding public open spaces, legalities of slum rehabilitation, street vending, and land reclamation. Her work highlights the environmental injustices and social inequalities born from fragmented regulatory systems and urban planning in Mumbai. Her research focus has extended to the historical development of land use and public spaces in Mumbai, with her advocacy role sparking a new interest in the importance of civic action and citizen-led initiatives. By conducting on-ground research through NAGAR, she aims to merge historical and contemporary perspectives, to offer a nuanced view of how civic participation and land policies continue to shape Mumbai’s public spaces and informal housing.

Pranil Chitre, NAGAR

Pranil is graduate of the University of Melbourne, Australia, where he has completed Master of Urban Planning under the School of Design Faculty. He has an Associate Membership of Institute of Town Planners, India (ITPI) and is an Affiliate Member of Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), United Kingdom with almost 4 and half years of professional experience working in Australia and India. His experience in Australia was focused in administering town planning controls for infrastructure planning projects, especially in the telecommunications sector. Herein he has advocated statutory and strategic planning provisions by conducting research on relevant town planning legislative instruments and accordingly have lodged planning statements (Development Approval proposals) to respective statutory bodies of the State. In India, Pranil worked in the NGO sector for formulating a strategic planning document for Open Spaces in Greater Mumbai by performing iterative mapping and documentation. He also provided litigation support to the legal advisors to the organization in procuring required development control regulations and their real-time applications with a good understanding of the land-use plan and maps.

Anaushka Goyal, Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI)

Anaushka Goyal is an architect and urban researcher from Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Mumbai, currently pursuing her Master’s in City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania, with a concentration in Urban Analytics. Driven by a commitment to building sustainable infrastructure, she wants to integrate advanced data analytics into planning recommendations to enhance economic viability, environmental resilience, and inclusivity in tier-two cities. Her urban research experience focused on analysis of public open spaces to develop management strategies for community engagement, along with GIS mapping, data visualization, methodology development, and inclusive accessibility assessments. Anaushka's undergraduate thesis investigated post-consumer textile waste in India, highlighting issues and proposing actionable recommendations for the second-hand recycling sector to counteract its environmental and social impacts. In addition to her studies, she contributes as a graphic designer for nonprofits in India, supporting causes centered on social equity. Anaushka is eager to connect with others dedicated to advancing cities as engines of inclusive and sustainable growth.

Prerna Yadav, Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI)

Prerna is an urban development professional with an interest in urban policy and governance for sustainable and inclusive development. She is currently engaged with the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI), Mumbai, as a Senior Research Associate. As an architect and urban designer, she has also been associated with HCP Design Planning and Management on the Central Vista Redevelopment project. She has also worked on various Master planning projects for affordable housing and slum rehabilitation. Prerna holds a Bachelor's in Architecture from Pune University and a Master's in Urban Design from CEPT University, Ahmedabad.

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