City’s development plan delayed

The brand new development plan (DP) for Mumbai, which was to be ready by June, will be delayed by two-and-a-half years.

The brand new development plan (DP) for Mumbai, which was to be ready by June, will be delayed by two-and-a-half years. The plan is important as it will decide the reservations for civic amenities, public utilities, open spaces and will also set guidelines for the civic body on permissions for construction of taller buildings in the city.

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The consortium of Indian and French firms, led by Groupe SCE India Pvt Ltd, that is preparing the revised DP, have asked for more time.

Now, the new plan could become a reality only by the end of 2013. The consultants will be ready with the plan only by July 2013. Another six months would be needed to complete mandatory procedure such as inviting suggestions and objections from the public before enforcing it. The work had been assigned in 2009.

Rajiv Kuknur, chief engineer of the DP department, refused to comment.

Elected representatives are not happy with the move. “We will oppose the extension as it will further delay implementation,” said Ashish Shelar, Bharatiya Janata Party leader in the BMC.

“This is a major setback for the city’s infrastructure planning,” said Manmohan Chonkar, a Shiv Sena member of the improvements committee.