Title - Mumbai Metro and Mono-Rail projects to receive impetus

Infrastructure projects in Maharashtra are giving their best to break the shackles. In fact, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan says that projects worth Rs 5,000 crore will get an approval in this year, reports CNBC-TV18’s Aastha Maheshwari. Chavan is keen on the state's target of commissioning projects worth over Rs 3 lakh crore by 2021. It involves moving forward on new projects. It also means reviving projects that have been derailed as investors have been unhappy with issues of land availability and environment clearances.Prithviraj Chavan, chief minister of Maharashtra says, “Need to derisk BoT (build, operate, transfer) projects to make it more attractive for investors. I have urged Central Govt to have a dispute resolution panel to fast track stuck projects. We should take some projects on EPC and BoT basis"

Giving an impetus to infra

On top of the agenda is the Rs 2,500 crore metro rail project, which has been delayed by 2 years as developer Reliance Infra  did not get the needed land from MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Road Development Authority).

A close second, is the Rs 2,500 crore mono-rail project. Test runs have been carried out and the first line has already been delayed by 2 years. Currently, both line 1 and line 2 are expected to be complete by the end of 2013. However, the expansion to 8 lines has been shelved. Chavan also hopes that other stalled projects will take off soon.

“(I am) hopeful that trans-harbour link project will take off soon”, Chavan adds.

The 10,000 crore trans-harbour link project has not seen any bidders, but MMRDA is confident that its project pipeline will not be a washout.

UPS Madan, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA says, "We have our Maharashtra urban transport link project 2,3,5 and extended MUTP (Mumbai Urban Transport Project), which we will complete in next few yrs. "

Major infra projects stuck

• The 32-km-long phase-2 of the Mumbai metro project awaits environmental clearance.

• The extension of the Bandra Worli Sea Link.

• The Navi Mumbai International Airport.

• The Rs 21,000 crore, 60 km long, Churchgate-Virar elevated rail corridor.

Chavan said, “I have asked the centre to give FSI and land requirement for elevated corridor project which has been stuck for long”

However, Chavan has good reason to be optimistic. Despite delays, some of these projects have seen interest coming in from a few Japanese companies. He hopes this interest will turn into something concrete very soon.