Shiv Sena unveils plan to develop, beautify Mumbai

A coastal road encircling Mumbai, development of a world-class theme park at the Race Course and other projects form the Shiv Sena's agenda to beautify and develop the metrpolis, party chief Uddhav Thackeray said here Friday.

Unveiling the party's ambitious development agenda, Thackeray said that many of the projects can be easily implemented if the excess lands with the Mumbai Port Trust and other agencies are released.

"The port trusts and Indian Navy are required for the country. We do not want their land. We are looking at the unused lands lying with them that can be released for development of the city," he said.

Thackeray said that over 900 acres of land on the east coast of the city belonging to the port trust, defence and salt pans was lying unutilized and parts of it were encroached.

"If these lands are handed over to the MCGM (Municipal Corporation of Grater Mumbai), many development projects like housing, tourism, industries, recreation, etc. can be taken up," Thackeray said at a presentation here.

On the issue of funds for these projects, he said that the MCGM has sufficient funds to implement the projects without needing any other support or partners.

South-Central Mumbai MP Rahul Shewale, who is also MCGM Standing Committee chairman, said that the civic body generated Rs.3,000 crore annually from FSI sales, its properties were valued at Rs.30 lakh-crore and it has fixed deposits worth another Rs.30,000 crore.

Thackeray said he would take up the issue with the central government through union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Environment Minister Prakash Jawadekar and seek clearances for the city's development and beautification.

He expressed optimism that with clearances coming various ministeries, these projects could be implemented within eight to ten years.

These projects also form part of the Shiv Sena's advance manifesto announced Thursday on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the founding of the party by Bal Thackeray.