Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, has set-up a large committee to weave together an ambitious and detailed plan to develop and transform the infrastructure landscape of Mumbai.
For this purpose, Gadkari has set up a committee under the leadership of former Mumbai Port Chairperson Rani Jadhav to conduct a detailed study as to how 1,800 acres of land under the Mumbai Port Trust could be put to use to build and further develop infrastructure in the city.
In addition, the Union Minister has also asked the committee to submit the detailed report within the next three months. Besides Jadhav, the committee will also include Architect Hafeez Contractor, Urban Development Research Institute’s Executive Director Pankaj Joshi, transportation experts, the Director of the J J School of Art, Maharashtra Urban Development Secretary as well as a few special invitees, making it diverse.
The ambitious development plan includes, among many other things, building new waterways projects under the Pradhan Mantri Jal Marg Yojana, new passenger terminals for waterways transport, floating hotels and a ring road connecting the southern end of the city to the distant suburbs.
The Minister also seeks the cooperation of the State Government in this project, and has asked them to contribute to the development of the city by studying the feasibility of connecting Nhava Shava situated near Uran, to Sewri located in the central suburbs, by building an under-sea tunnel as against the proposed 22-Km over-bridge that is currently planned.
Last week, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s ally in the state, Shiv Sena, too had proposed a plan to develop the water-front on the eastern shore of the city.
Gadkari has asked the committee to consider suggestions from all the stake-holders during preparation of the report.
Speaking to the press, the Minister, however, refused to disclose how much fund will be required or where the fund will be sourced from.
“Whatever I have promised, I have delivered on it. You have to trust me. If there is a will, there is a way. There is no shortage of funds in the country,” he said in response when asked about the funding.
He also had a word of advice for the media, whom he told “not to get the projects stuck in controversies”.
The Union Minister also added, “Follow a positive approach to these projects. When such projects get stuck, crores of public money gets wasted. If you have any suggestions, then please give them to us.”