MMRDA used only 40% of FY 2013-14 budget

Looking at the slow pace of these projects, the development authority had downsized its budget for 2013-14 mid-way in November to Rs 2,836 crore.

U P S Madan, metropolitan commissioner at the MMRDA, said, “It was mainly because of two-three new projects, especially the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro. We had thought the construction would start last year, but that did not happen. Also, some part of the budget for the rail component of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project remained unused as the funds weren’t required last year. “
Among the new projects in Mumbai, the largest allocation was for the 33.5-km Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro, the construction of which was expected to start last year. The MMRDA had earmarked Rs 500 crore for this Rs 23,176-crore project in the last year’s budget.

While the development authority got the Union Cabinet’s nod in June last year, the state cabinet’s nod for reconstituting the Mumbai Metro Rail Corp as a joint venture with the Centre came only in February this year. The tendering process, which began in September 2013, is still under way.

Madan said that owing to these factors, nearly all of the allocated amount remained unused.

Hoping to begin construction this year, the MMRDA has again allocated Rs 500 crore for the project.

The MMRDA had also expected to start work on the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link on a public private partnership model, but the plans fell apart when not even a single bidder showed interest in the project. The development authority had set aside Rs 150 crore for the showpiece harbour link, and another Rs 50 crore for a Worli-Sewri elevated road to serve as its connector. The latter is also facing obstacles with the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority having sent the project back to the drawing board asking MMRDA to make more entry and exit ramps.

Plans for an underpass at the Kalanagar junction, for which the MMRDA had set aside Rs 75 crore last year, were also put on hold later in the year as the cost was likely to be double of what was anticipated due to technology requirements.

Besides, many projects outside Mumbai in the metropolitan region have also not picked up steam due to land acquisition woes. The MMRDA had allocated Rs 622 crore to be spent in 2013-14 for implementing the extended Mumbai Urban Infrastructure Project (MUIP) to create transport infrastructure in the Mumbai metropolitan region. Similarly, the development authority had expected to spend Rs 50 crore to set the ball rolling for the Virar-Alibaug Multi Modal Corridor.

manasi.phadke@expressindia.com