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What is the difference between the development in Bombay and London |
| Answer» \tAlthough Mumbai is a rapidly developing financial centre; Bombay is nowhere close to the British capital in the sheer number of nationalities. This is both a good and bad thing. Although I’ve lived most of my life in Bombay; met my share of polite and rude individuals; London has the ingrained cultural context of the stiff upper lip and self-effacing politeness at times(even though it may be an act). In contrast; Bombay is a slam-dunk attempt at survival; especially if you are travelling by public transport.\tCleanliness: London beats Bombay hands-down in this. Our country has all these cesses imposed by successive governments; which we pay as direct or indirect taxes; and still many roads are totally atrocious. Some #InMyName protests needed there; but it isn’t an emotive; political issue; so no action. The craters are seriously life-threatening; especially open roads on the Eastern Express Highway; where I once escaped narrowly. London has its share of shady areas and can sometimes be less cleaner than some other European cities; but is still notches higher.\tLondon is a city with a great historical legacy. Although there are many places in India with a lot more historical context and amazing monuments; India and Bombay’s upkeep is not all that great. We could learn from the U.K and make some more money for the state in the process; if rightly implemented. Millennia of Indian history easily beats a 400 year old country. Although recently the Chattrapati Shivaji Museum has been improved with private funding.\tObviously; for anybody who considers costs; Bombay is a better bet. London is a DIY Western nation where you get cramped places for very high prices. For cuisine(both Indian and international); Bombay now offers many options. Although; if you like the tandoori version of Indian cuisine plus really experimenting with many more nations; London simply has a lot of restaurants.\tWe now have the much improved CSM Airport; but London has five; although Heathrow is the biggest one closest to its central areas(Others are Luton, Stansted, City Airport, Gatwick).\tThe U.K has a much better road system; good buses and trains; although comparing from an Indian context; their train costs are exorbitant. London has an ordered, equipped multi-modal transport system; and Bombay just has proposals caught in an eternal turf war between the political parties who control the BMC. Hope they build more metro lines quickly.\tLondon’s tourism setup and universities are world-class. Bombay; in contrast needs to improve in all of this. Seriously congested roads indicate a lack of urban planning; so newer alternatives have to be passed and implemented quickly to cope with rapidly increasing demands.\tI like the recently renovated airport at Bombay better than the drab environs of Heathrow. It is much more lively and has great murals compared to the dour weather you encounter when landing in London.\tI’ve travelled the Tube in London; as much as local trains in Bombay. The quaint smell of history and the beautiful countryside beat the cramped, sweaty insides of a local train; although I have my share of good memories from all the hustle and bustle. In contrast the quietness in some places in London is seriously jarring, sometimes welcome.\tBombay has 2 or 3 times the number of people in London. It is on its way to becoming the most populated city in the world. The city is a dynamic work in progress; a lively evolving entity compared to London; which is like a work of post-modern art; sometimes depressing; and at other times; a thing of beauty which is a joy forever. As I like and sometimes hate both cities; the above set of differences are a potential list in my opinion. | |