A Tale Of Two Cities

bombay_madras_courier
An image of the Gateway of India, Bombay. Image: Public domain
What makes Navi Mumbai unique is its fresh sparkle. Also, space — a dream of a ‘new city’ come true.

The visage of Mumbai’s — or, what was known as Bombay, not too long ago — ‘satellite township,’ New Bombay, now Navi Mumbai, has sure changed not just by its change of name. This was something that had to happen, sooner than later, as everybody in the community thought.

The City of the 21st Century, to state the obvious, was just New Bombay, some years ago, yes — it’s easy to relate to and articulate. It wasn’t as old-fashioned in its name as it is today, Navi Mumbai (Navi means ‘new,’ in the local dialect) — although most Navi Mumbaikars would brusquely object to this perception.

It’s the best of times and the worst of times — especially in the wake of COVID-19 tempest. Yet, in terms of quietude, there’s no rival outside the precincts of the expansive Thane Creek — that separates Navi Mumbai from Mumbai — India’s commercial capital — with its state-of-the-art rail and road bridges, juxtaposed by that, old, still ‘pontificating,’ rail bridge. You’d get an apartment of your choice, the best of fresh vegetables, and commodities, the local bazaar could offer — all for a price that Bombay would not offer. However, things are a-changin’ vis-à-vis housing today — the difference being of degree.

The Old

bombay_old_madras_courier
A picture that depicts what Old Bombay looked like. Representational Image: Public domain


To continue reading, please subscribe to the Madras Courier.

Subscribe Now

Or Login


 

-30-

Copyright©Madras Courier, All Rights Reserved. You may share using our article tools. Please don't cut articles from madrascourier.com and redistribute by email, post to the web, mobile phone or social media.
Please send in your feed back and comments to editor@madrascourier.com

0 replies on “A Tale Of Two Cities”