MMRDA's Vison for Mumbai

Mumbai, the commercial capital of India, contributes significantly towards the revenue, not only for Maharashtra but also for the country. The city alone pays over 50% of direct and indirect taxes. However, rapid growth has put tremendous pressure on the infrastructure.The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has concrete plans. MMRDA was set up on January 26, 1975, under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Act, 1974 Government of Maharashtra as an apex body for planning and co-ordination of development activities in the Region. MMRDA is responsible for the development of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which comprises a mega-city of Mumbai, and the rapidly growing hinterland. MMRDA has initiated a multi-pronged strategy. The strategy provides a blueprint for the overall development of the Region that will transform Mumbai into a vibrant international metropolis. The task force has identified three key areas for the transformation of Mumbai - Transport Infrastructure, Housing and Civic Infrastructure. Issues like safety, environment, pollution, water, sanitation, education and health services are also causes for grave concern. TRANSPORTATION: MMRDA is in various stages of planning and implementing the following ambitious projects-: Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP), Nirmal MMR Abhiyan, Rental Housing, Skywalk, Mithi River, Mono Rail, and Metro Rail. MMRDA will implement more projects with the use of modern technology as per the "Comprehensive Transportation Study". In the coming year the population of Mumbai will increase by 63%. So the number of Suburban and Metro Rail services will increase by 170%, Bus services will be increase by 36%, registered cars, two wheelers, autos, taxis and airport commuters will increase by 230, 400, 20, 50, 200 and 600%. Against this background, to reduce the stress on these transport services, MMRDA will invest Rs.2.07 lakh cr for the Metro system, Suburban Rail system, Express Highway system, Bus Route with high corridor, bus system, water transportation system, truck, depot, inter bus and rail depot for the next 25 years.Out of an investment of Rs. 2.07 lakh cr, for Mumbai city 35.6 % and the remaining 64.4 % invested for the MMR. And MMRDA also wants to improve the road network by 40% and rail network by 19.6%. To develop the proposed transport network, in the next 25 years, it is necessary to invest Rs.27,956 cr.This investment will be used for the 450 km Metro system - Rs. 1,10,095 cr, on 241 km Rail system Rs.30,978 cr, for 1660 km Express route Rs.57,412 cr, for a 77 km free way bus route with high corridors Rs.1,670 cr. It is also expected to spend Rs. 2,07,956 cr on 2,429 km projects which are as follows - Rs. 4,280 cr for the bus system, Rs.480cr for water transportation, Rs. 3,040 cr for the Truck Terminal, Inter Bus and Railway Terminal.MMRDA has undertaken to construct flyovers in congested areas. And the estimated project cost is Rs.130 cr. With the help of Municipal Corporations and Councils, MMRDA will invest Rs. 83.5 cr to improve corner areas. To provide safe crossing, MMRDA will implement the Rs. 1100 cr for the Road Over Bridge (ROB) and underground bridge, Rs.378 cr. for the pedestrian way and for the pedestrian sub routes, Rs. 178 cr with the help of local Municipal corporation and councils. MMRDA will also create car parking to tackle the growing problem. Signals and signboards will be constructed at strategic points. Estimated project costs are Rs 204.1 cr and Rs 76.1 cr. Along with the private vehicles, Rs. 75.1 cr will be spent on Bus depots. For the various infrastructure facilities Rs. 156.8 cr will be spent. The total project costs are Rs. 4875 cr.

SKYWALKS: A Skywalk is an elevated walkway dedicated to pedestrians connecting the railway stations/high concentration commercial areas and destination points where concentrations of pedestrians go. The skywalk also crosses over a number of arterial roads, with multiple entries and exits ensuring safety and convenience of the commuter. Some skywalks are being planned with hawkers’ zones designed to rehabilitate affected hawkers and for shopping convenience. The first of these is being planned at Kanjurmarg station .In the first phase it is proposed to build 50 skywalks at important locations. Twenty of these will be built by MSRDC and the rest will be constructed by MMRDA. MMRDA has made a budgetary allocation of Rs. 600 crores for this. Work on most will begin in October 2008 and it proposed to complete all 50 skywalks before 2009. The Skywalk from Bandra station (E) to Kalanagar was taken up for implementation by MMRDA as a pilot project with the cooperation of Western Railway (WR) and MCGM. The 1.3 km long skywalk has five entry/exit points. Phase 1 of the skywalk has been completed in a record time. Considering the auto rickshaw traffic on Bandra east and delay in buses it is proposed to build an elevated deck for auto rickshaws. This will streamline and completely and decongest the roads near the station.

RENTAL HOUSING: The Rental Housing Scheme by MMRDA is the first of its kind in the country where 160 square feet houses would be provided on rent. Under this scheme during the next five years, five lakh houses will be constructed. The project has already got off to a flying start with Dhanshree Builders agreeing to construct 35,000 houses in a 50-acre land at Tiwri village in Vasai.

NIRMAL MMR ABHIYAN :Public toilets at important locations, bathrooms, mobile toilets, etc in slums, and dingy bylanes have been initiated with 30,000 toilet seats under the slum sanitation programme, to come up within a year.

The main aim of all these projects is to encourage greater use of public transport enabling the establishment of quality focused multi modal public transport systems that are well integrated providing seamless travel across modes. They are also designed to encourage integrated land use and transportation planning.