Universität zu Köln

Pahl, Marie (2011). Mobilitätsprobleme unterschiedlicher Berufsgruppen während des Monsuns in Mumbai, Indien. Masters thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

Mumbai with its over 12 million inhabitants and a population density of 20,038 people per square meter is one of the most populated megacities in the world. Already for centuries, the urban agglomeration has been showing rapid growth and thus the urban areas covers 4,355 km² nowadays. This leads to enormous distances the inhabitants have to cover when going to work or during their free time. The majority of these routes are travelled by modes of public transportation which cannot keep pace with the rapid urbanisation of the city and the increasing demand. Overcrowded means of transportation and delays are daily constraints same as time consuming traffic jams. These constraints become increasingly apparent during times of heavy downpours which Mumbai is facing regularly during the monsoon season. This thesis gives answers to the question about the impact of the monsoon as a hazard on the mobility of people with different occupations in Mumbai being directly or indirectly dependent on mobility. It identifies the issues which workers such as taxi drivers, bus- and train staff, hawkers, food suppliers and employees in local companies face regularly in the course of their work or their way to work during the monsoon. It discusses in how far the existing traffic problems of the megacity are increasing during the rainy season and if the difficulties are varying between the different groups. Taking into account different concepts regarding the adjustment to natural risks, the thesis identifies the reactions of affected people to the existing difficulties. Accordingly, a specific emphasis is put on the strategies the people use to adjust to the situation and to reduce their problems. As an example the traffic situation during the monsoon season in 2010 is explored in quantitative and qualitative interviews as well as by means of expert interviews with different stakeholders. Results show that the investigated inhabitants of the megacity are facing substantial constraints and negative effects on their working day during the monsoon. For instance, many respondents bewailed enormous income losses due to less customers or limited working conditions. However, it was found that the problems were much more substantial for self-employed professionals than for salaried employees. But all groups have adjusted to these daily threats during the rainy season following different strategies which are less dependent on the occupation but on the personality of the respondents. The thesis, as a contribution to the field of hazard research, shows that the local people add a lot to the reduction of their daily problems what emphasizes the value of these local strategies for sustainable risk management by local authorities.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters thesis)
Translated title:	Title Language Mobility Problems of Different Occupational Groups during the Monsoon in Mumbai, India English
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Pahl, Marie mariepahl@gmx.de UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-55952
Date:	12 April 2011
Language:	German
Faculty:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences > Department of Geosciences > Geographisches Institut
Subjects:	Geography and travel
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Mobilität; Megastädte; Mumbai; Naturereignisse; Anpassung German Mobility; Megacities; Mumbai; Hazard; Adjustment English
Date of oral exam:	2011
Referee:	Name Academic Title Kraas, Frauke Prof. Dr.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/5595