The Indian Express 24.03.2013
MMRDA budget focuses on infra projects outside city
MMRDA presented a Rs 4,028 crore budget with thrust on improving infrastructure in satellite areas of Mumbai. However, cash rich agency has been steadily reducing money it is spending on improving region's infrastructure.
In the past four years, the budget allocation has come down from Rs 6,653 crore in 2009-10 to a comparatively measly Rs 4,028 crore this year. MMRDA officials, however, claimed that this means the agency is rationalising its expenses and spending only on realistic projects.
The budget was approved by CM Prithviraj Chavan Saturday. The largest chunk earmarked is for the extended Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP), for which Rs 622 crore will be spent on creation of infrastructure in areas such as Thane, Kalyan, Dombivali and Vasai. Under the plan, the agency will build six flyovers, a creek bridge and a 90-km road network.
MMRDA has also kept aside Rs 988 crore to complete ongoing projects in Mumbai. It has allocated Rs 600 crore for the Chembur-Wadala-Jacob Circle monorail, Rs 200 crore for Santacruz-Chembur Link Road, Rs 98 crore for Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar elevated Metro and Rs 55 crore for Anik-Panjarpol and Panjarpol-Ghatkopar link roads. Rs 35 crore has been allocated for Milan subway rail over-bridge and Sahar elevated road. MMRDA expects to complete these in the next 12 months.
"MMRDA has consciously made a large provision for development of the metropolitan region. It is necessary to complement the development showcased by the city today," said Dilip Kawathkar, MMRDA spokesperson.
No new projects have been proposed this year, with officials claiming that their efforts were to complete pending transport projects.
Feasibility study planned for
1. 29.7-km ring road around Kalyan
2. 12-km ring road around Bhiwandi
3. 5.8-km Khopoli bypass
4. Development of NH-4 from Takka colony to Palaspe Phata
5. 37-km Shirgaon-Padgha-Titwala- Badlapur link
6. 8-km Neral-Dasturi Naka-Matheran road
7. 3.2-km Mankoli to Motagaon-Dombivali link road
8. 1.8-km Revas-Karanja bridge
