Think-tank MTSU may shut down

“There is an issue with the funding of the think-tank. The World Bank was funding the MTSU’s studies until now. However, that funding will get over in June. All that the MTSU staff has been told is that their services would be terminated as of June 30,” a source close to the development said.

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The source added that the think-tank requires a budget of barely Rs 1 crore a year for its studies, besides administrative expenses for which Bombay First, a voluntary organisation of private sector individuals, has been contributing.

Manisha Mhaiskar, principal secretary at the state urban development department, said, “These kind of organisations have a role to play. We are looking at all possible options of reviving it.”

The MTSU was set up in 2005 to aid in the process of transforming the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by advising on and coordinating projects undertaken by the various government infrastructure agencies such as the city’s development authority, civic body, and the housing authority. The think-tank was set up in association with the AIILSG, the Maharashtra government and global organisations such as World Bank, Cities Alliance and USAID (United States Agency for International Development).

The MTSU has largely focused on issues concerning physical and social infrastructure, environment, housing, governance, strategic planning and economic growth. Apart from coordinating and advising on projects, it has conducted extensive research on topics such as cluster redevelopment, large revamp projects such as Dharavi and BDD chawls, amendments to the Rent Control Act, traffic improvement around station areas, infrastructure projects such as Navi Mumbai airport, Mumbai Metro and so on.