| Dr. Amrita Aggarwal Assistant Professor Nagindas Khandwala College Mumbai |
Abstract
The study investigates the Happiness Index and quality of life in Greater Mumbai by analyzing socio-economic, infrastructural, environmental, and community-level variables across its 24 wards. Using a structured, close-ended questionnaire administered to 1200 respondents through stratified and cluster sampling, the research examines gender-wise and ward-wise disparities in subjective well-being. The analysis reveals that while basic amenities such as housing, healthcare, public transport, and education are moderately satisfactory, challenges related to sanitation, traffic congestion, commuting stress, and night-time safety continue to impact urban happiness. Gender differences are statistically significant, with male respondents exhibiting higher overall happiness, whereas women report lower satisfaction due to safety concerns, limited mobility, and social constraints. Ward-level analysis highlights strong spatial variations: wards with better civic amenities, cleaner environments, efficient transport systems, and greater inclusivity demonstrate higher happiness scores, whereas densely populated or poorly serviced wards reflect lower well-being. The hypotheses testing confirms significant associations between gender, ward characteristics, and happiness levels. The study concludes that urban happiness in Mumbai is a multidimensional construct shaped by infrastructural quality, socio-economic stability, community participation, environmental management, and governance. It emphasizes the need for micro-level, ward-specific interventions over generalized city-wide policies to enhance overall urban well-being and promote sustainable, inclusive, and resilient urban development.