4.2. Access Road Conditions

And here is the level of people different kind of stakeholders starting from our GCOE that is global centre of excellence, human security engineering of Kyoto university team and Local community members and municipal corporations Greater Mumbai especially the involvement of the G-North wards, like we help them in mapping and I say, we also work as the surveyors, and explaining and introducing community the role and objective of the survey.

In this chunk, we learn about the collaboration among various stakeholders involved in mapping an area. The Global Centre of Excellence (GCOE) on Human Security Engineering from Kyoto University cooperates with local community members and municipal corporations in Greater Mumbai, particularly in the G-North wards. This collaboration is vital for accurate mapping, as it involves helping community members understand how to participate in surveys effectively. The role of surveyors is also highlighted, emphasizing the importance of local input in collecting relevant data.

Imagine a school project where students are divided into groups, and each group has a specific role, like gathering data, conducting interviews, or assembling presentations. In this scenario, the GCOE represents a group that helps others (local community members and municipal corporations) complete the ‘project’ of mapping the roads and identifying their conditions.

We collected a lot of data there starting from land-use data, residential, commercial, public, playground, infrastructure what are the infrastructures are there, Doctors clinic, community toilet, community taps, school.

This chunk discusses the various types of data collected during the mapping process. It highlights the importance of gathering a broad spectrum of data including land-use categories (residential, commercial, public), infrastructure details (like clinics, toilets, taps, and schools). This data provides a comprehensive overview of the area's facilities, which is essential for planning and development.

Think of this data collection like making a shopping list before going to the grocery store. Just as you need to know what items are available and what you need to buy, the surveyors need to gather information about what facilities are present in the community to understand what services are available and what is lacking.

Hazard parameters we considered, flood duration, water level during the flood, areas frequently affected, building height, building materials, building conditions, plinth level these all we collected.

This section outlines the various hazard parameters taken into account during the mapping process. The data includes flood duration, expected water levels during floods, commonly impacted areas, and the structural details of buildings like height, materials, and overall conditions. This information is crucial for assessing vulnerability to flooding and preparing effective safety measures.

Imagine testing a new roller coaster and asking questions about how high it goes, how steep the drops are, and how often it has problems. In this case, the hazard parameters are similar to those questions; they help understand the potential risks during floods and how buildings will handle such events.

Now here are some of the facts that in 2006 after 2006 lot of residential areas this is actually a road this is one of the fraction of the Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, many are transferred into commercial areas.

This chunk discusses the significant changes in land use in the Rajiv Gandhi Nagar area after 2006. Many residential areas transitioned into commercial areas, impacting the community, infrastructure, and services available. This evolution indicates how urban areas can rapidly change based on economic and social factors.

Consider a small town that was once quaint and peaceful but has experienced a surge in businesses, turning homes into shops and offices. This shift can be likened to what happened in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar, where neighborhoods changed character, affecting the residents' quality of life.

People started to build G+1 structure in though this is not allowed, but community allowed that community reported that many people are now constructing G+1 structure in Rajiv Gandhi Nagar okay.

In this section, it is explained that residents have begun constructing G+1 (ground plus one floor) buildings, even though this is typically not permitted. The community's allowance of this practice indicates a lack of regulation or enforcement, leading to potential safety and compliance issues in construction.

Imagine playing a game where everyone is supposed to follow strict rules, but some players start bending them because no one is watching closely. In this case, people building unauthorized floors in their homes reflects a similar situation where rules are not enforced, impacting safety and community planning.

Also the electricity supply; it can easily electrified, and current can kill people during emergency or flood inundations.

This chunk addresses the critical infrastructure challenges faced, particularly concerning the electricity supply in the area. It emphasizes the danger posed by exposed electrical connections during emergencies like floods, where water can cause electrocution, putting lives at risk.

Think of a frazzled extension cord lying in a puddle of water on a rainy day. Just like that situation can lead to severe risks, inadequate safety measures regarding electricity supply in flood-prone areas pose life-threatening dangers during emergencies.

Access roads are very narrow; you cannot evacuate, two people cannot pass easily from this one.

This section highlights the problem of narrow access roads, which significantly hinder evacuation efforts during emergencies. If roads do not allow for the movement of multiple people or emergency vehicles, it creates a bottleneck situation when quick evacuation is essential.

Imagine trying to leave a crowded concert where everyone is trying to exit through a single narrow doorway. The congestion and delay in leaving can lead to panic and danger—this reflects how narrow roads can complicate emergency evacuations in residential areas.

And the roads are zig-zagged, so when these roads are filled by water and then during the flood or inundations that you cannot step in we do not know where you are putting your leg okay.

This section discusses the increased difficulty of navigating zig-zagged roads during floods. When these roads become submerged, the uncertainty about where to step can lead to dangerous situations, making it hard for residents to escape. This further underlines the importance of design in urban planning and public safety.

It’s like walking through a funhouse in an amusement park, where the floors are distorted—if water covers the ground, it’s impossible to know where it’s safe to step. This analogy illustrates the confusion and danger people face during floods on poorly designed roads.

People could not evacuate during 2005 one reason that there was no designated place there was no early warning and the head of the household was not at house.

This chunk explains various challenges faced during the 2005 floods that prevented effective evacuations. Key reasons included the lack of designated evacuation areas, insufficient early warning systems, and the absence of the household head to lead evacuations, particularly affecting women’s ability to make urgent decisions.

Imagine during a fire drill at school, if there were no clear plans for where to go, and the teacher was absent, it would create chaos and confusion. Similarly, without proper planning and support during a crisis, panic can prevent the swift actions needed to ensure safety.

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