MMRDA got a scold from Chief sec

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) came in for some harsh criticism from the state chief secretary, DK Sankaran, reports Our Political Bureau. Mr Sankaran said on Wednesday that he would tell the MMRDA to improve the quality of its road construction works.

The chief secretary would also ask the MMRDA to do something about the pot-holes on both the Western Express and Eastern Express highways. Surprisingly, it was only after mediapersons narrated their personal experiences, the chief secretary was willing to admit that there could be pot-holes.

“These two are concrete roads. How can they have potholes,” he said. It is the first time the state’s top bureaucrat has not only admitted to some sloppy work being done by the MMRDA but also taken upon himself to set things right. So far, only the BMC, ruled by the Shiv Sena, and the Mumbai regional Congress committee chief Gurudas Kamat, have blamed the MMRDA for its road works.

The MMRDA, it may be noted, is headed by the chief minister. The chief secretary pointed out that the MMRDA should not have taken up projects involving long stretches of road construction works in a single season from October to May. “Road works of this magnitude cannot be completed in one season,” the chief secretary said. It may be recalled that the MMRDA has faced flak from the Shiv Sena as well as Gurudas Kamat for digging up several important roads in western suburbs before monsoon.

When pointed out that both the highways constructed by the MMRDA do not even have proper traffic signals, the chief secretary assured he would take up the matter with the MMRDA. “The only permanent solution is an overhaul of the storm water drainage system,” he said. Mr Sankaran said the BMC had told him that only upgradation of the drainage system would solve the problem.

“They have been able to only clean the drains and sewage. They have not been able to increase the capacity of the drains,” he admitted. The state hopes to crack the problem by implementing the Brihanmumbai Storm Water Drainage (BRIMSTOWAD) project, he added.

Surprisingly, the chief secretary contradicted the state government’s earlier version that BRIMSTOWAD was one of the proposals submitted to the Centre for consideration under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM). “It’s an independent proposal and we are expecting 100% finance from the Centre. We hope to get Rs 650 crore for the first phase. The Centre has agreed in principle,” Mr Sankaran said.