MUMBAI : The civic elections are almost here. For the BJP-led state government, this means it’s time to kick-start many of its pet big-ticket projects to show its development agenda for the city.
Sources said PM Narendra Modi may launch some of these projects, including the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and the Navi Mumbai airport — sounding the poll bugle .
By showcasing these projects, the BJP hopes to not only steal a march over ally Shiv Sena that has controlled BMC for more than two decades, but also hit the previous Congress-NCP government, which initiated MTHL and the Navi Mumbai International Airport but failed to get them off the drawing board. The other projects BJP wants to highlight are two metro lines (see box).
In the past two years, the state managed to get speedy green nods, which means all projects could see work begin by year end. The state has also reworked the metro plan, realising the potential to win mandate following commissioning of the VersovaGhatkopar corridor, the only project completed during Congress-NCP rule.
“Except stage-2 forest clearance, we have got all approvals for MTHL and the airport. We are in position to appoint contractors by early next year. We can do a Bhoomipujan of these projects by PM,” said an official. There is no confirmation on Modi’s visit next month, but officials are preparing for a soft launch. While the BJP claims many projects will be ready before the 2019 Assembly polls, officials hesitated to commit. “Two metro lines, 2 A and 7, can be completed. But MTHL or airport are vast and involve several complexities,’’ said a senior MMRDA official. The state is looking to fast-track projects by splitting them into phases and giving contracts to different bidders. Another project on the list is an elevated rail corridor between CST and Panvel, as rail transport is still the backbone of the transport system. It is expected to get central cabinet nod next month.
{{/usCountry}}“Except stage-2 forest clearance, we have got all approvals for MTHL and the airport. We are in position to appoint contractors by early next year. We can do a Bhoomipujan of these projects by PM,” said an official. There is no confirmation on Modi’s visit next month, but officials are preparing for a soft launch. While the BJP claims many projects will be ready before the 2019 Assembly polls, officials hesitated to commit. “Two metro lines, 2 A and 7, can be completed. But MTHL or airport are vast and involve several complexities,’’ said a senior MMRDA official. The state is looking to fast-track projects by splitting them into phases and giving contracts to different bidders. Another project on the list is an elevated rail corridor between CST and Panvel, as rail transport is still the backbone of the transport system. It is expected to get central cabinet nod next month.
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