Crucial projects in city get development body nod

The projects will be implemented in association of Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation and are likely to generate 3,000 MLD of extra water for the region.

Chavan also okayed the Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd metro rail corridor which has been facing opposition from residents of the areas from where the elevated corridor is proposed to pass. According to sources,members of the MMRDA,mostly belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena,argued that a partial underground corridor should be opted in place of the proposed 32-km elevated one. “The second metro corridor has been formally sanctioned by the Authority without any changes,” said Dilip Kawathkar,Joint Director (public relation).

The decision to establish the National Research and Training Institute on the lines of Federal Transit Administration (FTA) of the United States of America was taken to improve transportation expertise “The role of FTA is very critical as far as preparation of public transportation system in the whole of America is concerned. FTA receives yearly funding of US $900 crore every year,and studies bus transport system,underground rail system,vehicular traffic on road,Mono Rail,passenger water transport system etc,” said Chavan. The FTA has signed a Memorandum of Co-operation with the State Government in September 2008 agreeing to share research and development on transport infrastructure.

“The appointment of Science and Technology Park,Pune,as consultants to study the scope of Innovation Park is another crucial step towards attaining a new high for the city,” said MMRDA press statement. It is also proposed that a university could be established in this Innovation Park based on the research done all over the world. The Department of Science and Technology,Government of India,has already signed a MoU with more than 70 countries. “The participation and contribution from Government of India’s Ministry of Science and Technology,Ministry of Urban Development,Ministry of Environment and forest,Ministry of Agriculture,Ministry of Commerce and Industries,Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises will prove crucial while implementing the Innovation Park project,” the statement added.