Devp body in talks with World Bank officials

Nove-Josserand too declined to comment. Earlier,additional metropolitan commissioner SVR Srinivas told Newsline that the meeting was meant to chalk out how to expand the scope of WB funding to other infrastructure projects in MMR.

A senior MMRDA official said,“There are many projects that require funding. The Bank gave a presentation on funding patterns. This was the first meeting and it would require many more to finalise things; the Centre will then have to forward the request for funds.”

In September,MMRDA had given a detailed presentation to the Department of Economic Affairs on the project that are being slated for the MMR and mainly requested for higher Viability Gap Funds for the Metro corridors. According to MMRDA,it requires around Rs 3 lakh crore by the end of 2031 for the overall development of MMR. It is seeking around Rs 24,000 crore from international financial institutions.

In July,MMRDA had discussed the city’s seven Metro corridors with World Bank country director (India) Roberto Zagha. Though the officials were impressed by the “meticulous planning” on Metro,they have not committed anything on the funding. The Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) is also funded by the World Bank.