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Anupama Katakam

Mumbai , May 2

IN an effort to transform Mumbai into a "world class city", the Maharashtra Government has set in motion a multi-pronged programme, which they hope to complete by the year 2013.

Following a strategy laid out by a task force comprising of prominent members from the corporate sector and Government, the first phase of the plan, which is titled "Vision Mumbai" has begun.

"We made a presentation to the Chief Minister in March this year. He cleared several recommendations - most of which are now in the implementation stage," says Mr Sanjay Ubale, Member-Secretary of the task force.

The task force has put together six focus areas and a list of "Quick wins" to combat some of Mumbai's insurmountable problems. To begin with smaller projects under each category are under way, Mr Ubale told Business Line. The "Mumbai Chakachak" or clean Mumbai campaign, for instance, has started. The restoration of Marine Drive with the assistance of corporate sponsorship is another project off the ground.

In the focus area titled strategic planning and financing, the initiatives include creating a Mumbai Development Fund, which plans to raise up to Rs1,500 crore per annum for the "Vision Mumbai" programme.

One of ways through which funds will be raised is by leveraging Mumbai's land assets. The housing focus area, which is chaired by Mr Deepak Parekh, Chairman of the Housing and Development Finance Corporation, the proposals include creating11 lakh low-income houses for slum dwellers and repealing the infamous Urban Land Ceiling Act (UCLA) to create land supply.

Under the category - economic growth, chaired by Mr Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, plans consist of reviving the Thane-Belapur industrial belt by creating semi-Special Export Zones. Strengthening the entertainment industry and the Bollywood brand. And making Mumbai more attractive to Information Technology companies.

Former IDFC head Mr Naseer Munjee, who chairs the physical infrastructure group recommends improving the city's commuter systems. For example making the taxi system more efficient, increasing the number of suburban trains to extending railway lines and adding more stations.

Better roads, highways and resolving the Bandra-Worli sea link problem is under way.

Governance and social infrastructure are the other two focus areas. The former headed by Mr M. Damodaran, chairman of the Unit Trust of India and the later by Mr F.C. Kohli, former Vice-President of Tata Consultancy Services.

The committees for these two categories suggest privatising civic amenities, particularly the city's water supply - much on the lines of the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport.

Making the mayor more representative and adopting a new property tax system among a host of other recommendations.

The "Vision Mumbai" plan's genesis lies in a preliminary report brought out by Mckinsey and Company that was commissioned by a citizens group called Bombay First and the State Government last year.

Initially, it was met with a level of cynicism as there have been several attempts at resolving Mumbai's problems. Non-government groups, activists and various urban planners believed it was just another effort by the builders to free up land in Mumbai. "Of course some of the initiatives are ambitious and quite unique," says Mr Ubale.

But we are following a systematic procedure. For some we need to create policies, then a framework of policies only after that can decisions be taken.

For several recommendations ministers have to give their approvals. In the case of the sensitive ULCA, it can be done quickly but it will be debated in the house before a conclusion is arrived at.

"The whole project is a mammoth task given the city's size but changes are happening," says Mr Ubale.

More Stories on : Infrastructure | Maharashtra

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