BackWill making Mumbai Wi-Fi enabled remain a pipe dream?
Even as MNS, Shiv Sena squabble over attempts to providing this service in several areas of the city, Bangalore and Ahmedabad have already taken a lead
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Mumbai: In the 21st century, some say that bandwidth is as basic a need as Roti, Kapda aur Makaan. But it seems political parties, civic authorities and state governments are either interested in settling political scores over the issue of making major cities Wi-Fi enabled or there is complete apathy regarding the issue.
On Sunday, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray inaugurated a “free" Wi-Fi service in Vile Parle—a suburb in west Mumbai—after its unsuccessful attempt to provide a similar service in Mumbai’s iconic Shivaji Park and adjoining areas in the central Mumbai.
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), which is controlled by Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena, scuttled these attempts. The civic body confiscated cable and other equipment of the contractor and filed an FIR against the contractor and MNS activists for tresspassing and damaging municipal property.
MNS claimed the Sena did so to settle political scores. It further claimed that Shiv Sena, in its manifesto for 2012 civic elections, had promised to make all of Mumbai Wi-Fi enabled but took no action after winning the polls.
The choice of Shivaji Park to launch its first free Wi-Fi service was strategic for the MNS as the park is an iconic maidan of Mumbai—holding a special place in the hearts of the Marathi populace of the city. It is considered cradle of Mumbai cricket, producing many domestic and international cricketers—from Vijay Manjrekar, who was the backbone of India’s batting in 1950s and 60s to the living legend in Sachin Tendulkar. The crème de la crème of Mumbai’s Marathi populace lives in the area, including several authors, theatre, film and sports personalities and political leaders. And till recently, it used to be the most sought-after venue for political rallies, with leaders of the stature of Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee addressing large public rallies here.
Obviously Shiv Sena, whose headquarters are a stone’s throw away from Shivaji Park, was irked by the MNS’s attempts to provide free Wi-Fi service, and ensured it didn’t take off. For Vile Parle, though, MNS claims it’s taken due care with the installation. The cable network will be laid through various cooperative housing societies in the area—only after taking due permission from these societies.
While the two parties squabbled over making Mumbai Wi-Fied, Bangalore took the lead in January and launched the service free of cost in that city’s popular MG Road area. Five other localities have quickly joined in, with expansion planned in 15 more locations within the next one month.
Similarly in February, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was then chief minister of Gujarat, launched free Wi-Fi service in eight areas of Ahmedabad and announced plans to extend the service to Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot.
But Maharashtra, which boasts of being the number two state in terms of software exports, has taken no steps to make its cities Wi-Fi enabled. Municipal authorities in Mumbai and Pune have taken small steps towards the endeavour, but there is need of a push from the state government. A comprehensive policy in the matter will make the municipal authorities sure-footed to take up the challenge of making their city Wi-Fi enabled confidently.
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