MMRDA plans a technology innovation park

With a budget of Rs 6,653 crore — a little more than last year’s Rs 6,200 crore the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority(MMRDA) will be focusing on completing existing or already-announced projects like the Sewri-Nhava Sea Link and the metro rail, as well as transforming the city into a hub for research and development. While unveiling the 2009-10 budget on Tuesday, the MMRDA (which has a corpus of Rs 11,329 crore) laid out its plans to develop a 1,000 acre science and technology innovation park that will bring together scientists and industrial houses to undertake research programmes and develop products in various fields. The new technology innovation park situated in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is touted to be the first of its kind, and the largest in Asia. “It will be undertaken in collaboration with the department of science and technology at the Centre and the Science and Technology Park, Pune,’’ said chief minister Ashok Chavan. The CM added that the government will developing the park along the lines of the innovation and technology centre near Paris. “Where the park will be situated and what it will cost the government have still to be decided, but several premium research and development laboratories have been looking for space to set up projects in the state, and they can be accommodated in the park,’’ he said. According to MMRDA officials, the park in Paris brings together leading scientists who work towards coming up with solutions for industrial products in a range of fields like IT, bio-technology, nano technology and pharmaceuticals. “When the park becomes fully operational, we are looking to house 25,000 people from different countries,’’ said Chavan. Water and power supply is also a priority. The MMRDA has slotted Rs 10 crore for research on developing new catchment areas for water sources, and another Rs 10 crore for new power projects, for which it will work in collaboration with the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). “We are looking into new areas for developing water resources for the region, which is growing rapidly, and also more power generating plants to augment the present supply,’’ he said. Work on existing projects like the Mumbai Urban Transport Project(MUTP) and the Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project(MUIP) will also continue as planned. MUTP, which concerns rail and road projects, will be given Rs 729 crore. The rail projects include the building of new lines and the addition of new trains on the suburban railway. Another Rs 187 crore has been allotted to road projects that include the two main East-West link roads — the Jogeshwari Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) and the Santacruz Chembur Link Road (SCLR). Another Rs 5 crore has been allocated for the rehabilitation and resettlement of people affected by these projects. Under the MUTIP, the MMRDA will widen 18 arterial roads, and construct 16 flyovers and subways. A sum of Rs 1,130 will be spent on both projects including the building of tenements for rehabilitation. Another Rs 184 crore has been allocated to the Nirman Abhiyan scheme — a project undertaking the building of 30,000 toilet seats in the region. Other projects include: land acquisition and land bank for the MMRDA project and development centre (Rs 100 crore); development of the Wadala Truck Terminal (Rs 50 crore) and improving on civic amenities in BKC (Rs 150 crore)