With eye on BMC polls, govt makes Mumbai centric announcements in Budget 2022

The state government plans to extend the 32-km-long Metro-3 project between Seepz and Cuffe Parade up to Navy Nagar in Colaba.

Mumbai: With civic polls around the corner, the Maharashtra government in its budget for 2022-23 has made several announcements for Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) such as extension of Mumbai Metro-3 from Cuffe Parade to Navy Nagar and increasing power transmission capacity in the city, which recently faced major power outage due to faults in the distribution system.

Along with Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) -- the richest civic body in the country -- several other local bodies are expected to go for polls in the coming months. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT PHOTO)

The state government plans to extend the 32-km-long Metro-3 project between Seepz and Cuffe Parade up to Navy Nagar in Colaba. According to officials, it makes sense to extend the Metro corridor considering Navy Nagar is the southernmost tip of the city before hitting the Arabian Sea.

Recently, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had also announced plans to extend the Mumbai Monorail corridor from Jacob Circle and connect it with the Mahalaxmi Metro station to make the project more useful for commuters.

In his budget speech, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said, “It is imperative to increase the capacity of Mumbai Transmission System. In Mumbai, 4 substations with a capacity of 400 kilowatts (KW) and one highly pressured Transmission Project at a cost of ₹11,530 crore will be carried out.” Parts of the city faced power outages due to voltage fluctuations in the distribution system on February 27.

On transportation, the state government announced a ₹330 crore water transport project to boost the connectivity of MMR. “The government intends to connect Vasai, Bhayander, Dombivali, Kalyan, Vashi, Airoli, Mithbundar (Thane) and Belapur by waterways to reduce the burden on the road and rail transport system in the MMR. It is planned to construct jetties or similar facilities and deepening of the creek. It is expected to cost ₹330 crore,” he said.

Further, the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government has decided to set up a Bharat Ratna Lata Dinanath Mangeshkar International College of Music and Museum. For this purpose, a land parcel has been identified in the Kalina Campus of Mumbai University and an outlay of ₹100 crore has been kept for this purpose. Another sum of ₹7 crore has been allocated for the preservation and conservation of Sewri and St. George Fort in the city.

The government also announced plans to construct a postgraduate institute at St George Hospital in the city to increase the admission capacity for postgraduate education. Besides, the government allocated ₹100 crore for improvement works in slums outside Mumbai within city lines.

This is followed by organising heritage walks in the city to introduce the work of our freedom fighters, revolutionaries and social reformers of Maharashtra.

Pawar also proposed the setting up of a Marathi Bhasha Bhavan in Mumbai at the cost of ₹100 crore for the development and promotion of the Marathi language. The Bhoomi puja of this building is planned for April 2 on the occasion of Gudipadva.

Further, he also announced a Marathi Language Research Sub-Center and construction of Maharashtra Bhavan for officers, employees and citizens coming for work in the state capital at Navi Mumbai.

Pawar also mentioned that two Metro corridors between Dahisar and Andheri will be operational in the coming months and that 64 percent of the works for Mumbai Trans Harbour Link connecting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai is completed. He said the MTHL work is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

Elaborating on the projects completed or on the verge of competition, he said, “Kalanagar flyover and Durgadi bridge on Ulhas river near Kalyan have been opened for traffic. Chheda Nagar flyover, Santacruz Chembur Link road extension, Naigaon bridge near Vasai-Virar and Newale Fata near Panvel, these projects will be completed soon. Construction work of grand monuments of Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Hon. Balasaheb Thackeray is under progress.”