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How Maharashtra's Infrastructure Projects Can Get A Boost Under The New Regime
Construction of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Photo: Ashwini Bhide/Twitter)
As Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis took oath as the CM and Deputy CM of Maharashtra, respectively, infrastructure enthusiasts are hopeful about this new regime.
Fadnavis v/s MVA: Fadnavis set up a 'war room' and fast-tracked nearly 20 infrastructure projects.
The MTHL project was revived and the Mumbai Coastal Road project was put on fast track.
While the MVA government did not actively try to derail these two infrastructure projects of Mumbai, several others initiated by the Fadnavis government have faced severe delays.
Two projects that were particularly targeted by the MVA regime were the Mumbai Metro Line 3 and the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train.
These infrastructure projects are likely to get a new lease of life or regain momentum. For Maharashtra to rapidly scale to a one-trillion-dollar economy, it must commission large-scale infrastructure projects.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train: The project hit a roadblock on the Maharashtra side due to land acquisition issues, but work is rapidly progressing on the Gujarat side.
Of the 1,396 hectares of land needed for the MAHSR project, 98.79 per cent of the land required in Gujarat has been acquired, while in neighbouring Maharashtra, the figure stands at 71.49 per cent.
Besides stonewalling the project by refusing to co-operate in land acquisition, the Thackeray-led dispensation also fuelled divisive rhetoric to oppose it.
The MVA government also refused to hand over government land for the BKC underground station of the bullet train project.
Mumbai Metro Line 3: The first phase between Bandra and Seepz has been delayed by over two years.
The Fadnavis government had announced that the car shed for the Metro 3 Line will come up at Aarey Colony, but the MVA government scrapped the plan, throwing the project into turmoil.
The MMRDA is now exploring options other than Aarey and Kanjurmarg for the car shed.
Ratnagiri Refinery Project: The project was scrapped ahead of the 2019 assembly and Lok Sabha elections, as the Shiv Sena leaders believed the oil refinery would be detrimental to the Konkan ecology and environment.
Uddhav Thackeray himself led the resistance. He said he would not allow even "an inch of land" to be acquired for the project.
However, he recently said that while the proposed oil refinery project would not come up at Nanar village, an alternative site was identified for the project.
Marathwada Water Grid Project: It was announced by the Fadnavis government in 2016, but no progress has happened on the ground.
"Maha Vikas Aghadi government has stalled this project. Even good water conservation projects undertaken by us like Jalyukta Shivar and micro irrigation projects have been stopped," Fadnavis said.
Vadhavan Port: It is part of the centre's Sagarmala initiative. The JNPT and the Maharashtra Maritime Board are development partners for the project.
Stressing on the ecological sensitivity of the area, a section of local population has opposed the construction of the port.
Shiv Sena until recently was opposed to the project.
Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project: Despite 'in principle' approval of the site, vehement opposition from local farmers and residents in the Konkan for more than a decade grounded the project.
The Shiv Sena had slammed the centre's approval. It said that it firmly stood with the locals.
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