11.8.12

Mumbai makeover plans


The Maharashtra state government has decided to push for its plans to transform Mumbai.
Besides big-ticket infrastructure projects, worth Rs 60,000 crore, plans are afoot to seek additional funds to increase the affordable housing stock. “We will meet the Union environment minister to push our case for withdrawal of a notification that has hindered high-rise construction in Mumbai,” said chief minister Prithviraj Chavan.
Among infrastructure projects, a demand for funding aid and fast track clearances for the trans-harbour link (Rs 10,000 crore), Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor (Rs 10,000 crore), Colaba-Bandra Metro line (Rs 16,000 crore), Navi Mumbai airport (Rs 14,000 crore) and the coastal ring road from Marine Drive to Malad (Rs 8,000 crore) will be made.
During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Mumbai in October 2011, the government had sought ‘national projects tag’ for key projects, which could allow the state to seek up to 90% of the projects’ cost from the Centre. This demand is likely to be reiterated, sources said.
With the land crunch and various policy hurdles blocking Mumbai’s slum makeover plan, the delegation will push for unlocking of land owned by central agencies for shanty redevelopment.
The state is also expected to make a revised pitch of Rs 3,011 crore for short-term drought relief.

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