Mumbai's factories trade clutter for kilowatts in an air power overhaul

Across the dense industrial geography of Mumbai — from the labyrinthine print hubs of Byculla and Parel to the massive machine shops of Thane — the unmistakable, percussive knock-knock-knock of the reciprocating air compressor is fading. In its place, a hum. The shift is not about a new corporate mandate or industrial chic; it is a cold, calculated move driven by the bottom line, the high price of power, and the sheer scarcity of real estate.

by Dibyajyoti Sarma