Forget the chaos, expats love Mumbai

MUMBAI: The verdict is out. Mumbai and Delhi are among the ten worst cities in the world for expats.
The country''s top metros were rated just a tad better than Karachi, Dhaka and Port Moresby (capital of Papua New Guinea) in a survey conducted by the London-based research group Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
The EIU, which tallied the hardships'' facedby expatriates in 130 cities, found that Mumbai and Delhi lost out on issues such as health, safety, corruption, security, environment, education, culture and infrastructure.
Expats, however, insist that Mumbai is far from being a hardship posting. "Only a complete materialist would say so," says a surprised Arnaud Pousin, chief finance officer of Aventis Pharmaceuticals.
"Liveability, to my mind, is as much about emotional experience as physical comfort. And Mumbai is an emotional experience. It''s full of surprises.Melbournemay be No 1, but there''s no emotional excitement there. It''s a village."
Aloise Price, wife of J.P. Morgan''s MD, Dominic Price, agrees, adding that Mumbai offers a physical comfort level that''s rare. "Having someone else take care of domestic chores adds a dimension that deserves far greater weight than it probably got in the survey," she says.
"As for recreational options, they may not be as neatly pre-packaged as in the top-ranking cities, but with a little imagination, there''s lots one can do."
Of course, Mumbai has its share of irritants—pollution, exorbitant rents, a scarcity of cello teachers—but it''s so "energising" that one can live with them, says Swiss consul Joseph Koch, a son-in-law of the soil who''d like to stay here until he retires.
BNP CEO Frederic Amoudrou seconds that sentiment, as he finds professional life "exciting" in Mumbai.
"Although it''s a tough city," he qualifies. "The chaos, the absence of urban planning and the squalor are difficult to deal with. Despite its brain power and money,Mumbai looks like a third world city."
Mr Amoudrou notes that Jakarta and Bangkok are more liveable thanMumbai, primarily because they''ve built up their infrastructure —highways, sky trains—while Mumbai''s needs have been neglected for years.
Italian journalist Paolino Accolla seconds that. "Mumbai is like what Bangkok was 15 years ago—but Bangkok cleaned up, Mumbai hasn''t."
The security angle too gets the thumbs-up from Australian consul general Don Cairns. "India''s safe," he declares. "There have been riots and bomb blasts, but expats are far more sheltered than locals. They don''t walk anywhere or commute on the Borivli local, so there''s little chance of their running into danger."
Mr Cairns is inclined to believe that surveys like this can be misleading. "Port Moresby''s at the bottom of the heap allegedly because of its crime," he says. "Actually, it''s a pleasant place to live and work in. I''ve served there. It''s got nice people, lovely beaches, a culture."
Such surveys are about theories, not ground realities, adds British businessman Graham Tullet. "There are no hardships in India for expats, there are facilities," he declares.
"Several services are far better here than they are in England—like health, for instance. When I need treatment of any sort, I have it done in India."
Ms Price buttresses the claim. "Some of my fellow countryfolk abandon their National Health Service waiting lists in the UK to have their ills attended to quickly, efficiently and cheaply in India," she says.
"Whether it''s dental treatment, laser surgery or plastic surgery, it''s all available here in Mumbai at world-class standards."