Devendra Fadnavis approves Rs 12,156.95 crore MMRDA budget; metro corridors, trans harbour link to get boost

Mumbai: With a focus on speedy implementation of various infrastructure projects in the megapolis, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday approved the Rs 12,156.95 crore budget presented by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for 2018-19. The budget, which was presented at the authority’s 145th meeting, has made a large provision of funds for crucial projects such as the metro corridors, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, development of flyovers, creek bridges and road network, the MMRDA said in a statement. It has made a budgetary provision of Rs 4,700 crore for seven metro projects — including Rs 1,588 crore for the Dahisar to DN Nagar Metro-2A corridor, Rs 1,262 crore for the Andheri (East) to Dahisar (East) Metro-7 corridor, Rs 700 crore for the DN Nagar to Mandale Metro-2B, Rs 500 crore for the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro-3 corridor, Rs 450 crore for the Wadala-Ghatkopar-Thane-Kasarvadavli Metro-4 corridor, Rs 100 crore each for the Thane-Bhiwandi-Kalyan Metro-5 and Swami Samarth Nagar-JVLR-SEEPZ-Vikhroli Metro-6 corridors. Similarly, the provision of Rs 2,100 crore opens up the speed-gates for the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project. [caption id=“attachment_4401557” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of the Mumbai Metro. Reuters[/caption] “This link will not only provide direct access to Navi Mumbai, new international airport, will be a convenient gateway to Mumbai-Pune Expressway and further to southern India, but will also help develop the main land,” MMRDA said. The authority has further made a significant allocation of Rs 581 crore for the ongoing 403 MLD Surya regional water supply scheme, which has been undertaken to provide bulk water supply to Mira-Bhayandar and Vasai-Virar municipal corporations as also for some rental housing schemes in the area. The Rs 1,611-crore project will collect water from the Surya dam, treat the same at Surya Nagar and distribute it by laying a 88-km long pipeline. MMRDA has also made a provision of Rs 150 crore for building Dr Ambedkar Memorial, which will come up on Indu Mill’s 4.84 hectares of land. During the meeting, Fadnavis also directed the authority to create a labour welfare fund for the workers deployed on Metro projects. MMRDA said this fund will be created through various penal actions taken against the contractors for accidents causing light, grievous and fatal injuries or reporting accidents late or wilfully suppressing them. UPS Madan, metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA said this is not only to press contractors to take adequate safety measures during the construction, but also to take care of the workers and their  family members by compensating them in case of any mishaps. “MMRDA will soon draft a policy based on which the sufferer and his family can be compensated,” he added.