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MMRDA in talks with foreign agencies to raise debt for MTHL

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The Economic Times             28.10.2013

MMRDA in talks with foreign agencies to raise debt for MTHL

The state received a major setback as MMRDA did not receive any bid for the 22-km Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project last month.

The state received a major setback as MMRDA did not receive any bid for the 22-km Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project last month.

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which has decided to develop the much-delayed Rs 9,630-crore Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project, is in talks with various foreign agencies for raising debt.

"We can raise debt to the extent of 80 per cent of the project cost. We are in talks with various foreign agencies like the World Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, Asian Development Bank among others for funding," MMRDA Commissioner UPS Madan told PTI here.

The MMRDA has so far received funding from the World Bank for phase I and II of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), while it has received a loan sanction to the extend of Rs 13,235 crore from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro corridor.

The state received a major setback as MMRDA did not receive any bid for the 22-km Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project last month.

"We have decided to develop the project on our own on engineering, procurement and construction basis. We will come out with a plan soon," Madan said.

The MMRDA is the implementing authority of the Rs 9,630 crore project connecting Sevri in the northeastern coast of the megapolis and Nhava across the sea, which is to be developed on built-operate-transfer basis.

According to an MMRDA official, the authority had provided all the necessary assistance to mitigate all kinds of risks for the private sector, right from clearances to assuring financial assistance. Yet no bids were received.

After repeated failed attempts, MMRDA had extended the deadline for shortlisted consortia to submit bids to July 5 from the earlier May 24.

However, the nodal implementation authority further extended the deadline to August 5, after the shortlisted bidders requested for additional time to finalise the bids.

Meanwhile, the state had also approached the Centre for making changes in the model document of the project on certain terms and conditions to address some of the issues faced by the private sector.

To address some of its financial risks, Union finance ministry in January this year, sanctioned viability gap funding to the tune of Rs 1,920 crore for the project.

Besides, the empowered committee of the finance ministry had also approved 10 per cent shortfall loan to the MTHL concessionaire.

Meanwhile, the phase I of Mumbai monorail between Wadala and Chembur as well as the first metro line Vesova-Andheri- Ghatkopar will become operational by December, Madan said.
 

Hike in TDR rates on cards: Mayor

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Deccan Chronicle             28.10.2013

Hike in TDR rates on cards: Mayor

Mayor Katte Satyanarayana.
Mayor Katte Satyanarayana.

Bengaluru: In order to make Transferable Develop­ment Rights (TDR) more attractive, rates in A, B and C zones will be enhanced, announced Mayor Katte Satya­narayana on Saturday.

After holding a meeting with residents of Bannerghatta Road, which is proposed to be widened, he said the proposal will be placed before the BBMP council and sent to the state government for approval.

Core Bengaluru is zone A, area between core city and Outer Ring Road (ORR) falls under zone B and the region beyond ORR up to BBMP jurisdiction limits is zone C. At present, property owners are given 50 per cent extra developmental rights, he clarified.

Citizens who took part in the public hearing on Bannerghatta Road wide­ning felt the  project will be scientific only if road widening and Namma Metro works are done in tandem.

The BBMP has proposed widening the road between Jedi Mara and Chicken Farm on NICE Road’s 7.5 km stretch. It will be widened to 45 metres. The average width of the existing road is between 22 and 28 metres. About 405 private properties, including 11 temples, have been proposed to be acquired through TDR.

Yogesh D of Banner­ghatta Neighbourhood Trust said the road should be widened from Hosur Road junction. The hearing elicited a mixed response. Some residents fought for junction improvement while others pitched for scientific widening along with Namma Metro work.

Save Bangalore Comm­ittee representative Rajs­hekar said widening is a temporary measure and will only shift the problem. Instead, the stretch should be made signal-free with pedestrian facilities.
Bengaluru in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy promised a democratic decision. He said that the road should have been widened at least 10 years ago.

 

Kanpur Municipal Corporation's executive panel to discuss new proposals today

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The Times of India        25.10.2013

Kanpur Municipal Corporation's executive panel to discuss new proposals today

KANPUR: The executive committee of Kanpur Municipal Corporation would discuss the proposals of corporators and officials at a meeting slated to be held on Friday. According to zonal officer Vijay Kumar Srivastava, more than one and a half dozen proposals would be discussed in the meeting. Proposal for special guest houses and 'baratshala' for weaker section of the society would be presented by the Samajwadi Party corporators. Whereas, more than four dozen corporators had sent a proposal that plots and shops be given to corporators.

While in other proposal, a new double-story and multi-story market is demanded in place of the old and dilapidated market in front of Bajaria police station. Moreover, market and baratshala near Colonel Ganj Chipiyana market, guest house at a vacant land near Fahimabad dump house and fixation of rates for digging for mobile companies is also proposed.

Employee suspended: Municipal commissioner DK Singh suspended an employee for dereliction of duty. According to municipal corporation staff, Ratandeep Saxena, a clerk in the health department used to come from Lucknow and after signing in attendance register, used to disappear.

Due to increased work load, his colleagues had made a complaint and hence Singh suspended him on Thursday. In another order revenue inspector of zone VI, Rama Shankar was attached to headquarter for not achieving the target in tax collection.

 


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