Will help expedite infra projects in Maharashtra: PM

CM Prithviraj Chavan had led high-level delegation to meet PM seeking a review of infrastructure projects in state

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will intervene personally to ensure the Navi Mumbai airport takes off now that project-affected people (PAPs) will get 22.5% of the developed land with an average 2 floor space index (FSI).

Farmers have been assured of adequate compensation. The land acquired would be constructed into a state-of-the-art airport with amenities matching international standards, Chavan told reporters after he led a high-level delegation to meet the Prime Minister to review infrastructure projects in Maharashtra.

Issues concerning Greenfield Navi Mumbai Airport, the International Airport at Chakan, Pune; the Churchgate-Virar Elevated Suburban Rail Corridor; Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), Shifting of Doppler Radar in Mumbai; Metro Corridor-III; Colaba-Bandra SEEPZ; Salt Pan Land and Indu Mills Land were deliberated at length.

The 90-minute meeting was also attended by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Chavan was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, Chief Secretary J.K.Banthia, Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation Vice-President and Managing Director Tanaji Satre and Urban Development Secretary, Manu Kumar Srivastava.
    
In an effort to throw another life line to Maharashtra’s trophy infrastructure project, the Rs 9,630 crore MTHL, Chavan urged the Prime Minister to declare it a ‘National Project’ and provide substantial financial assistance of project cost.

The project involving a total distance of 22 km would help seamless and speedy link from Mumbai to Navi Mumbai, Pune, Goa and South India.

A series of infrastructure projects are in the pipeline. The Elevated Suburban Rail Corridor between Mumbai Central and Virar Station needs to be completed in January 2014.

Chavan sought prime minister’s intervention to remove bottlenecks and help granting necessary clearances at the earliest. Chavan also discussed on the issue of shifting of Doppler Radar currently in Colaba, to any open area of higher altitude in Mumbai.

This would help in creating an early warning system for rains and thereby minimize future damage.