A Digital Blueprint of Breathing Spaces in Mumbai

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.