Marine Drive beautification plan faces hurdles ………Ashley DMello I TNN
Mumbai: An air of uncertainty hangs over the fate of Marine Drive beautification project. Last week, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had handed over the project to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Now, the civic officials have said the second phase of the project might be done in stages.
The project aims to develop and beautify the stretch between Nariman Point and Chowpatty. The first phase of the project has already been completed by the MMRDA. The second phase of the project, which has now been handed over to the BMC, is expected to cost a whopping Rs 100 crore as against the Rs 26 crore for the first phase.
The project, which is already running behind schedule, is expected to be delayed further with the civic officials claiming that they may not inclined to implement the project in one go.
Municipal commissioner Jairaj Phatak said: I will have to look at the estimates; if they are too extravagant, the work may have to be done in stages. He said all 24 wards in the city need to to be developed on an equal basis.
The cash-rich MMRDA had decided to move out of the project over a year ago. MMRDA officials said the agency took the decision as it found dealing with the residents of the various housing societies difficult. The process to hand over the project to the civic body took almost 10 months, they said. However, there were others who opined that the decision was taken as the MMRDA was focussing on low-cost rental accommodation.
The project was discussed by the residents in the area over 16 years before the government stepped in to help with finance.The various associations had discussed ways of doing it themselves and some are ready to take up the challenge again.
Anil Bhatia, who heads the Marine Drive Council which represents over 15 organisations from the area, said some of the members who were part of a rival group did have different views when it came to developing the area, but most of the members agreed with what the MMRDA was doing.
We are now taking up the issue of refurbishing the buildings. Several building societies have already have done their maintenance work. We tied up with a paint company and were able to avail of 40% discount. We are also exploring various options to ensure that our streets remain clean, he said.
The first phase of the project has given the area a new look with new bus stops and spots of greenery. In the second phase, an amphitheatre will come up besides fountains along the drive. Special lifts to take visitors to prominent art deco buildings on the drive will also be installed.