MMRDA plans to set up experts group to develop infrastructure ……….Our Political Bureau MUMBAI
THE Maharashtra governments penchant for putting in place as many study groups and committees as possible for the Mumbai makeover programme is set to give birth to another such special group.
The MMRDA, a state-owned agency in charge of many of the Mumbai makeover plans, has proposed setting up a core group of seven to eight experts from different sectors to formulate strategies to develop infrastructure facilities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad made this suggestion at a meeting of experts, policy makers, consultants, and infrastructure companies on Monday.
The panel discussed a concept plan prepared by MMRDA for development of infrastructure and economic activity in MMR which estimates an investment of Rs 75,000 crore. Mr Gaikwad said the concept plan would be prepared for the next 50 years and if implemented, would require an investment of Rs 75,000 crore.
The metropolitan commissioner said to get the plan moving, a core group of five to six eminent persons from various sectors would be formed. This group would formulate strategies to develop the infrastructure facilities in MMR. Once this plan is implemented and is effectively handled, then a slum-free MMR is not a distant goal. Longterm planning towards this step is the need of the hour, said Mr Gaikwad.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region, spread over 4,355 sq km, includes 20 urban regions, four districts and 1,000 villages.
Mr Gaikwad recalled how MMRDA has made considerable progress in two main areas. One, the Mumbai Urban Transport Project undertaken to strengthen the road as well as rail networks and the other, the Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Projects which focuses on roads and flyovers in the city.
The metropolitan commissioner pointed out that the Union government has already cleared the second corridor of the Mumbai Metro project on the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd route. He said MMR has plans to develop land-filled sites for solid waste management and a few sites have been identified.
On the rental housing scheme, the authority has made some progress in an attempt to prevent slums. Five lakh houses under the rental housing scheme at various locations will come up and two lakh houses are expected within a year, according to MMRDA.
Thai Kei Liu of RSP Singapore made a presentation on the plans implemented for development of Singapore, which talked about the effective use of heritage structures and an architectural view. VK Phatak of LEA Associates called for bridging the gap between the demand and supply of housing stock in Mumbai and giving priority to railway connectivity.