World Bank chief in Mumbai on Thursday

MUMBAI: Will the World Bank continue to support the state agencies despite their tardy implementation of various infrastructure projects in Mumbai? Answer to this question may be found on Thursday when World Bank’s new chief Robert Zoellick comes calling to Mumbai to review the ground realities. The bank has been a major contributor to the city’s biggest-ever comprehensive transport management plan — Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP).

The nearly Rs 5,000-crore project which began in 2002 was designed as a first and urgent step towards improving physical infrastructure in rail and road transportation. Besides MUTP, the state government has a slew of projects lined up for Mumbai which are awaiting funding.

Mr Zoellick’s visit to Mumbai comes nearly a year after the state government and the bank avoided a major collision. The state government was upset after former World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz halted financial assistance for Mumbai, citing unsatisfactory rehabilitation of the project-affected people in March 2006. Estimates suggest that around 35,000 families will be unsettled all over Mumbai as various infrastructure projects progress. The bank viewed the state’s measures inadequate in accommodating these many people.

Since the suspension, the bank and the Maharashtra government worked closely to address the issues, especially in respect of the grievance process, the resettlement of shopkeepers and post-resettlement services. A couple of months later, the bank sent a team of inspectors to access the situation.