BJP demands review of SRD scheme

BJP (Mumbai) president Kirit Somaiya did not think that this could adversely affect the scheme. “This has already been accepted by the chief minister on the floor of the house. All we demand is that it be implemented,” he said adding that places like Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, Dharavi did not show much potential for the slum re-development.

The party has suggested that amendments be made on reduction of development taxes for the builders participating in the scheme. A BJP delegation will be meeting the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde next week to press for their demands.

All BJP MPs, MLAs and office bearers from the city, who attended that meet, drafted a charter of 14 demands to three authorities: the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the State Government and the Union Government.

“In this 50th year of the country’s independence, we want these authorities to grant Mumbaikars certain facilities,” said Somaiya. And in the event they are not delivered, the BJP will be leading a delegation to all these centres of power.

The main demand revolves around the Mumbai Urban Transport Project II (MUTP-II). Somaiya claimed that the World Bank had given a deadline of August 31 for the Union government and the Railways Ministry to get its act together and clear the proposal on formation of a separate Mumbai Rail Development Corporation and decide on the financial responsibilities of the state and union government. The party’s other demands permission for setting up of the water terminal for hovercrafts at Gateway of India, scrapping of passenger tax and nutrition taxes on BEST tickets, revision of property tax by BMC among others.