Badlapur on a development spree

The project has been approved under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) and would be getting 35 per cent of the funds from the central government,15 per cent from the state government with rest of the amount coming from the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) as soft loans.

Redevelopment of the slums is also in the pipeline. In the first phase 1634 slums would be redeveloped into self-contained model colonies. The Rs 77 crore Housing Project under the Basic Services to Urban Poor (BSUP) envisages health centers,community halls,gymnasium,gardens and solar power enabled colonies. “We are also in the process of submitting a proposal for the redevelopment of the remaining 2000 slums under BSUP. Once it is undertaken,there would not be any slums in Badlapur. We would be the first civic body in Mumbai Metropolitan Region to boast of such a record,” said Patkar. He added that 50 per cent of the funding for the housing project would be from the central government,30 per cent from the state government,11 per cent from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and remaining 9 per cent would be raised by the municipal council.

In the pipeline is also the implementation of the existing water-supply project which is awaiting approval from JNNURM. This project would be implemented jointly by the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) and the Kulgaon Badlapur Municipal Council (KBMC). There are several areas in the township that are facing water shortage due to lack of pressure in the supply lines. Patkar said that the project,besides augmenting the existing mains,would also involve the construction of reservoirs. Also,two skywalks are under construction in the east and west sections of the city. The tendering process for the approved projects is expected to start within a month.