Transport panel set up

June 27: A high powered committee on Mumbai's transport problems has been set up, with former transport minister Pramod Navalkar as its cha...

June 27: A high powered committee on Mumbai8217;s transport problems has been set up, with former transport minister Pramod Navalkar as its chairperson. Other members include state excise minister Prakash Mehta, transport minister Chandrakant Khaire, PWD minister Nitin Gadkari and minister of state for urban development, Ravindra Mane.

It would suggest steps to coordinate rail transport with private transport, announced chief minister Manohar Joshi at a weekly cabinet briefing.

He stated that though the state had received several proposals for starting a metro railway in Mumbai, there were no plans on that score yet.

A major function has been planned on August 9 at the August Kranti Maidan to mark the call for Quit India. Veteran freedom fighter Nijalingappa would hoist the tricolour at the function to be held in the evening.

All those members of the Congress who were present at the All India Session of the Indian National Congress in 1942 when the clarion call for Quit India8217; was made, will be felicitated this year. The Congress president Sitaram Kesri will also be invited.

The CM also said the demand of Maharashtrians that Konkan Railway trains should originate from Dadar instead of Kurla was likley to be accepted.

Members of the Railway Board were to visit the city soon, and the atmosphere for acceptance of the demand was said to be 8220;conducive.8221;

Story continues below this ad

The state cabinet also decided to take stringent action against municipal councils in the state that had piled up huge arrears in power bills. Chief minister Manohar Joshi told reporters at the briefing after the weekly cabinet that the total arrears in electricity charges of the councils incurred for water supply till March 1997 was to the tune of Rs 84.40 crore.

Action against the councils would include cutting off of power supply and also suspension of the councils.The payment of electricity bills by the local bodies will also be made compulsory.

The defaulting councils would be given a notice to the effect that if they failed to pay up within three months, their power supply would be terminated and the council would also face dismissal, he said.