Triple-engine sarkar for a better Mumbai?

With civic polls expected soon, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his inauguration trip to Mumbai on Thursday to pitch for a triple-engine sarkar. Stating that the role of local bodies is crucial in the speedy development of cities like Mumbai, he stressed on better coordination between the Centre, state government and the local administration. He inaugurated Metro lines 2A and 7 and projects worth Rs 38,500 crore for the city.

Modi was speaking from the MMRDA grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex, where Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders were in attendance.

The PM announced projects for concretisation of 400 km of roads, seven sewage treatment plants, three super speciality hospital buildings and inauguration of clinics under Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Davakhana scheme. The PM also initiated loan disbursement under Prime Minister Street Vendor's AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) scheme.

PM Modi and CM Shinde share a moment, at the dais, before the inauguration ceremony, in BKC. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Addressing the packed MMRDA grounds, he said, "The role of our cities is most important in building a developed India and it needs political will. With the inspiration of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the spirit of ‘Swaraj' and ‘Suraj' is reflected in the double engine government. The role of local bodies in the speedy development of cities like Mumbai is also crucial and there is no shortage of budget," but of will, he asserted.

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"The BJP or NDA government always puts development before politics, but schemes like PM SVANidhi (loan scheme for hawkers) had been halted," he said, targeting the Opposition, which was in power before the BJP and rebel Sena took charge of governance last year.

"Loans offered to 5 lakh beneficiaries under SVANidhi scheme were approved in Maharashtra as well and the work should have been done long back. However, due to the absence of a double-engine government, every work was hampered and the beneficiaries had to suffer," he added. "There needs to be better coordination between central, state and local governments for the implementation of projects," Modi said, adding that Mumbai will be transformed in the coming years.

A driverless Metro train leaves Shankar Wadi station after inauguration by PM Narendra Modi, on Thursday. Pic/Uday Devrukhkar

"Modernised local trains, extensive network of Metro, fast connectivity with other cities with Vande Bharat and Bullet train will transform the transport system of Mumbai. Modernisation of CSMT will offer multimodal and seamless connectivity between local, Metro, bus, taxis, etc," the PM said.

"We have strong support from the central government. We have our government in Central as well as in the State. Municipal elections will be held in the next few days. Then this double engine of development will be converted into a triple engine," Shinde said.

The CM said that the "people of Maharashtra are fortunate that PM Modi is here to inaugurate projects." He said that a few people are scared of the work his government has completed in the past five-six months.

A packed MMRDA ground for the PM's event, at BKC, on Thursday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Projects initiated by PM Modi

>> Metro lines: Metro line 2A that connects Dahisar East and D N Nagar in Andheri West (yellow line) is around 18.6-km long, while line 7 that connects Andheri East to Dahisar East E (red line) is around 16.5-k long.

>> Aapla Dawakhana: He inaugurated 20 new clinics under Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Davakhana scheme, and laid foundation stones for Bhandup Multispeciality Municipal Hospital, Nahur; Siddharth Hospital, Goregaon; and Oshiwara maternity hospital.

>> Sewage Treatment Plants: The plants will be opened at Worli, Bandra, Dharavi, Versova, Malad, Bhandup and Ghatkopar, with a combined capacity to treat 246.40 crore litres per day.

>> Concretisation of roads: PM launched the work for concretisation of 397 km of roads in the city. The BMC will spend Rs 6,079 crore for the work, with an aim to complete it in the next 24 months.

>> Redevelopment of CSMT: CSMT will be restored to its 1930 look but with state-of-the-art technology. The Rs 1,813-crore project also includes segregation of arrival and departure areas