Mumbai city is major focus of MMRDA budget

The authority has planned an overall budget of Rs 3,832 crore for 2015-16, about a 10 percent dip from the provisions for the current fiscal year.

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On the other hand, though the government has plans for smart cities in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) areas such as Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Kalwa, the MMRDA has set aside only Rs 906 crore for works in all urban agglomerations outside Mumbai. This amounts to less than 23 percent of the total budget.

Moreover, no funds have been separately set aside for smart cities or the ambitious Virar-Alibag Multi Modal Corridor designed to connect the areas in the Mumbai MMR through an express corridor.

Dilip Kawathkar, MMRDA spokesperson, said, “There is no provision for the smart cities and the multi modal corridor as these are still in the planning stages and the tenders have not been invited.

The provision for Mumbai city looks more large on account of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project for the improvement of suburban railways. In a way the entire MMR will benefit from it.”

The development authority budgeted Rs 1,005 crore, more than a fifth of the total pie, for the Mumbai Urban Transport Project for the development of additional lines between CST and Kurla, Mumbai Central and Borivali, extending harbor line till Goregaon, procurement of new rakes, station area improvement and so on.

Of the Rs 906 crore set aside for the metropolitan region, a major chunk, that is Rs 758.5 crore, has been set aside for the Extended Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project, focusing on development of transport infrastructure outside the main city.

The projects are aimed at development of transport infrastructure in the metropolitan areas beyond the main city. This includes widening and improvement of major roads, construction of flyovers at Vanjarpatti, Rajnoli, Mankoli, a creek bridge from Revs to Karanja and Bhiwandi Ring road, among other works.