Key challenge for Fadnavis: Fast-tracking Mumbai infra projects

CM assures co-ordination among multiple agencies, e-platform for various clearances

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government faces the huge challenge of putting the development of nearly Rs 60,000-crore infrastructure in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) in the fast track.

Fadnavis, after assuming office, announced that he would pay attention to bring in proper co-ordination of multiple agencies so that infrastructure projects are completed in a time-bound manner. He also hinted that a single e-platform would be put in place to provide various clearances and approvals in order to avoid time and cost over runs.

Some of the key projects the Fadnavis-led government plans to expedite comprise Rs 11,000-crore Mumbai Trans Harbor Link to facilitate de-congestion in Mumbai by improving connectivity between the island city and the main land (Navi Mumbai) and for development of the Navi Mumbai Region. The Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA) has shown its desire to provide up to 80 per cent loan for the 22-km-long Trans Harbour Link. The UPA-II government had already approved 20 per cent of the project cost as the viability gap funding.

The state-run Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to undertake the construction on cash contract after it failed to receive a bid from a pre-qualified consortia till August 2013, when it tried to execute the project on public-private-partnership basis. The project environment organisations have raised concerns over project design.

Further, Rs 11,000-crore Mumbai Metro II project on the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd route has yet to start despite the concession agreement being signed with Reliance Infrastructure led consortium in January 2010. The project failed to take off due to a lack of environmental clearances for the depot land on either end, which fall on land under Coastal Regulation Zone restrictions. Fadnavis will have to make a fresh attempt to seek necessary approvals from the central government so that project work begins at the earliest.

Moreover, the Rs 23,000-crore Mumbai Metro III project which will connect Cuff Parade in South Mumbai with Andheri via Worli and the airport is another key project to reduce pressure on already burdened road and railway transport services. The project will get  an aid of Rs 13,000 crore from  the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

This apart, Rs 5,000 crore Worli Haji Ali sea link project, which was awarded to Reliance Infrastructure is a non starter. The concession agreement was signed between the state-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation and Reliance Infrastructure in June 2010 but the project could not take off due to administrative and environmental issues. Thereafter, former chief minister Prithviraj Chavan made a strong pitch for a Rs 8,000 crore coastal road by dropping the Worli Haji Ali project. However, it remained in the planning stage.The coastal road was also promised by Shiv Sena in its poll manifesto. The BJP government will have to quickly take a call in this regard.

Additionally, BJP has always supported development of water transport. The water transport project requires Rs 440 crore for the service on the eastern coast and Rs 915 crore on the western coast. However, the project could not start due to uncertainty over project funding.