We are pleased to relaunch our newsletter The CITY after a lapse of over a year. This publication of Bombay First has established its distinctive identity thanks to its focus on specific thrust areas that have engaged the attention of all the stakeholders of this great and vibrant city for the past many years. We have covered from time to time diverse themes ranging from repositioning Mumbai as a financial services center to telecom development, urban transport to solid waste management and so on. All these have facilitated the process of evolution and articulation of policy formulation.
By no means the gap in its publication was intentional. Ever since my joining this wonderful institution, it has been our endeavour to revisit this very relevant activity of Bombay First. All our avid readers keenly desire data, information, perspectives and insights into the multi-dimensional problems and challenges of the city; and also on threats and opportunities. We believe in giving expression to enlightened opinion making, and presenting, to the extent possible, an objective and dispassionate analysis and views of our expert contributors.
Continuity with change is the soul of a living organism. While revamping The CITY, in this issue the core of the theme is to map out the changing socio-economic profile of Mumbai over the years and bring out the complexities of problems arising out of structural changes in the economy of the city - the demographic transition; the pattern of employment generation; the dynamics of property prices; and the challenges of managing infrastructure.
Our expert contributors have given their perceptions and prescriptions covering the whole gamut of subjects from civic governance (undoubtedly, the hard core issue) to public- private partnership. We also bring out a very perceptive interview from our very dear friend, philosopher and guide overseas, Prof. Nigel Harris, as well as significant excerpts from press interviews of renowned international experts who happened to visit India recently.
Not everything contained in this issue would fulfill your expectations. But we would welcome your valuable comments, observations and suggestions to make The CITY better and better for our valuable readers.
S. S. Bhandare