Mumbai, a city primarily designed for commuters, is increasingly investing in road expansions for private vehicles despite the overwhelming reliance on public transport.

The article highlights how billions of rupees spent on road projects for a minority car-owning population could have instead improved public transit systems used by millions.

Key projects like the Mumbai Coastal Road and Orange Gate Tunnel are criticized for prioritizing vehicular infrastructure over pedestrian and commuter needs.

The piece underscores the environmental and social costs, such as altered shorelines and loss of public spaces, while contrasting Mumbai's approach with Tokyo's successful rail-centric model.

It calls for urgent reforms, including integrating metro, railways, and buses into a cohesive network, rebuilding the bus fleet, and addressing the growing issue of 'transit deserts' in areas like Nalasopara and Vasai-Virar.

The article emphasizes that Mumbai's current policy contradicts its own National Urban Transport Policy of 2006, which advocated for people-centric planning over vehicle-centric expansion.