MMRDA gets new commissioner

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s habit of putting its hands in many pots may halt in the coming days.

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s habit of putting its hands in many pots may halt in the coming days.

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The newly appointed metropolitan commissioner, Rahul Asthana, on Thursday said the MMRDA was overstretched and there was a need to prioritise projects. The MMRDA may be a regional planning body but in the last few years, it has diversified into taking up projects like power generation, water desalination and setting up innovation parks for scientific research.

It has also come under criticism for taking up these projects at the expense of completing vital infrastructure projects in the region. Many of its vital infrastructure projects aimed at improving transportation systems such as the Metro, Monorail and road projects have been delayed.

“We are overstretched and we need to prioritise and decide which projects which we need to take up and complete,” Asthana said.

Asthana took over as the metropolitan commissioner on Thursday after his name was announced by the government late on Wednesday night. Asthana takes over from Ratnakar Gaikwad who was elevated to the post of chief secretary in January. Asthana earlier headed the Mumbai Port Trust.