With the city's sprawling slums literally a stone's throw from the plane's wingtips, air travelers arriving in Mumbai can be forgiven if they suddenly get the urge to turn around and go elsewhere.

The city's slums, where 60 percent of Mumbai's 15 million residents live, are everywhere. In contrast the sea view along south Mumbai's Marine Drive is spectacular, even if the area's aging but handsome seaside buildings appear untouched since independence from Britain. For all its problems, many believe that Mumbai is a city with vast untapped potential.

For one thing, it's not as poor as it seems....