Fate of nine mega projects hangs in the balance
Mumbai:
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s announcement, that he will review all the major infrastructure projects that his predecessor Devendra Fadnavis had approved in the last six months has sent shivers down the spine of Corporate India. His cabinet colleague Jayant Patil added more fuel to the fire by arguing that the state government will have to rethink on funding the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project given the huge debt burden on the state exchequer. Former Congress MLC Sanjay Dutt termed the Bullet Train project a “White Elephant” and a “miss-placed priority”.
Out of the 9 Mega major Infrastructure projects that the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tried to push through, the Shiv Sena of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has been vehemently opposing infrastructure projects like – Bullet Train, Nanar oil refinery, Jaitapur nuclear power plant, Mumbai Metro 3 car shed at Aarey Milk Colony and Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg. It is important to note here that almost all these 9 mega major infrastructure projects were conceived during the previous Congress led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led government’s both at the Center and in Maharashtra.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has already issued stop work notice for the construction of the Metro 3 car shed at Aarey Milk Colony. If that was not enough the Urban Development ministry on December 5 in a circular issued to all the District Collector’s, Municipal Commissioner’s of all the Municipal Corporation’s and Municipal Council’s has directed them not to issue work commencement certificates for projects, especially those of Urban Renewal till further notice. Former Water Supply and Sanitation minister Babanrao Lonikar has slammed the Thackeray government for stopping work on the partly centrally funded National Rural Drinking Water Supply scheme.
When asked for his comments state BJP vice president Kirit Somaiya remarked “Metro Car Shed work is stayed in illegal manner. New Chief Minister says not tree or leaf will be removed for development. Now metro 4 Wadala-Thane project needs removal of 3,500 trees. Shivsena wants this project also stopped now? Is it staying the projects or sending signals to Contractors?”
The actions of the Thackeray government ever since it took charge on November 28 have not been inspiring any confidence in the corporate world. Although, the Chief Minister has clarified that he has no intentions to stall any infrastructure project and was merely reviewing them, the above actions prove otherwise. Former Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Advocate Ashish Shelar has termed the Maha Vikas Aghadi as Maha Vinash Aghadi. Senior Sena Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai has termed the state governments actions as routine audit.
An IIT graduate and an Information Technology expert, Avinash Sankholkar remarked “from past experience of the Sena, and looking at the number of flyovers it built in Mumbai it appeared that it was pro development. It’s present actions seem to be a pressure tactic against the BJP to come around, even at this late stage and rescue it from the iron grip of the NCP but on its own terms”.
It does seem as though Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has gone hammer and tongs after some of these major infrastructure projects of the BJP led government. Ashish Shelar has cautioned the Thackeray government of not resorting to vendetta politics. One of the lines that a chief minister or a minister takes during his or her swearing-in ceremony is that he or she shall not harbor any bias, ill will or vengeance against anyone and that he or she shall treat all as equal. Surely, the swearing-in oath has lost its sanctity and decorum.
Noted constitutional expert, Advocate Ashish Giri remarked “as the decisions taken by the present government is really giving a suspicious signal altogether may be for the political achievements, or may be for the financial attainment. Or the remote control of the present Chief Minister is in someone else’s hand who is making him do all this”.
The 9 mega major infrastructure projects alone account for Rs. 10,28,571.00 crore worth funds out of the total 1,212 projects that cost Rs. 17,92,599.19 crore. The more significant infrastructure projects include – the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, the Mumbai Metro 3 car shed project at Aarey Milk Colony, the mega oil refinery project at Nanar and the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg.
Amongst the 1,203 infrastructure projects in Maharashtra, a majority of them are Irrigation projects, Transport projects, Power and other projects. Most of these projects are being executed by the central, state government and in some cases private agencies like the Railways, Shipping, NHAI, AAI, MMRDA, MRVCL, MMRCL, RInfra, MSRDC and others.
It is rather interesting to note here that irrigation projects like the Dudhganga project and Gosikhurd project have been labeled as “Under Construction” since 1965 and 1984 respectively.
What has been often lacking is that when it comes to issues of national importance, India still yet to adopt the “Bipartisan Approach”, when it comes to issues like infrastructure development, defense, diplomacy and national security. Former Mumbai Congress unit president Milind Deora alluded to the fact while commenting upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposal of “One Nation, One Election”.
Source: Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, InfrastructureIndia.gov.in – Database of Infrastructure projects in India. (Maharashtra).
Project implementing agencies: MCGM (BMC), MMRDA, CIDCO, AAI, NHAI, NTPC, MKVIDC, MMRCL, MMB, Railways, Ministry of Shipping & others.
Top 9 Mega Infrastructure Projects: Rs. 10,28,571.00 crore
Total 1,203 Infrastructure Projects: Rs. 7,64,028.19 crore
Total 1,212 Infrastructure Projects: Rs 17,92,599.19 crore
Completed – Operations & Maintenance – Total Projects 542 – Worth Rs. 8,172.02 crore.
Terminated Projects – 38 – Worth Rs. 5,13,355.47 crore
Under Construction – Pre-Construction Stage – Total Projects 623 – Rs. 2,42,500.70 crore.
List of Top 25 Major-Mega Infrastructure Projects: Total cost Rs. 12,07,366.1 crore.
Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC): Rs. 4,23,000 crore – December 2006.
Nanar Mega Oil Refinery Project: Rs. 3,00,000 crore – May 2017.
9,900 MW Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project: Rs. 1,12,000 crore – December 6, 2010.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: Rs 1,10,000 crore – September 14, 2017.
Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Mahamarg: Rs. 46,000 crore – December 2018.
Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL): Rs. 17,800 crore – April 24, 2018.
Mumbai Coastal Road (BMC): Rs. 12,000 crore – October 2018.
Versova-Bandra Sea Link Project – (RInfra) – Rs. 6,993.99 crore – June 24, 2019.
3rd Thane Creek Bridge (MSRDC): Rs. 777 crore – September 3, 2018.
MUTP 3A – (MRVCL): Rs. 33,690 crore – March 1, 2019.
Mumbai Metro 3 Project (MMRCL): Rs. 24,500 crore – July 5, 2016.
Gosikhurd Irrigation Project (VIDC): Rs. 18,110 crore – October 23, 1984. (35 Years – Under Construction)
Jigaon Irrigation Project (VIDC): Rs. 13,874 crore – June 24, 2009.
Pune Metro Project (PMRCL): Rs. 11,522 crore – May 6, 2017.
MUTP III Project – (MRVCL): Rs. 10,947 crore – December 1, 2016.
Thermal Plant – Wardha (Lanco) – Rs. 10,433 crore – January 31, 2010.
Nagpur Metro Project (NMRCL): Rs. 8,680 crore – July 22, 2016.
Dahisar-Andheri Metro 7 Line Project (MMRDA): Rs. 8,100 crore – June 1, 2016.
MUTP – II Project – (MRVCL): Rs. 8,087 crore – May 31, 2008.
Krishna-Marathwada Irrigation Project – (GMIDC): Rs. 7,778 crore – May 8, 2008.
Shendra-Bidkin Dry Port Project – (AITL): Rs. 6,414 crore – June 27, 2017.
MPCP Rewas Port Project – (MMB): Rs. 5,200 crore – March 17, 2002.
Tembhu Lift Irrigation Project – (MKVIDC) – Rs. 4,176.62 crore – February 19, 1996. (23 Years – Under Construction)
Kanjur SWMP – (BMC): Rs. 4,116.65 crore – October 31, 2012.
Nira-Deoghar Irrigation Project – (MKVIDC): Rs. 3,166.79 crore – April 9, 1997. (22 Years – Under Construction)
Some Other Major Infra Projects:
Dudhganga Irrigation Project – (MVIDC): Rs. 1,712.80 crore – September 27, 1965. (54 Years – Under Construction).
Cargo Port at Redi Port: Rs. 4,413.70 crore – February 25, 2009.
Mono Rail – Chembur-Wadala-Sant Gadgebaba Chowk – (MMRDA): Rs. 2,460 crore – 2008.
