Bhoomipujan of 16 new flyovers in the city

Mumbai, Dec 10 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Desmukh today said the State government was committed to changing the face of the metropolis with various developmental projects being initiated within the next five years.

Briefing mediapersons here after the 'Bhoomipujan' of 16 flyovers connecting eastern and western suburbs, Mr Deshmukh said the State Government had succeeded in getting maximum funds from the Central Government under various projects.

The Chief Minister said the Government was committed to protecting the interest of hutment dwellers, who have set up homes till 2000. ''Of course, beyond that it won't be tolerated,'' he said.

The hutment deadline is a major issue over which political parties have always indulged in mud slinging.

He said the government was thinking of granting more powers to the Mayors.

''Maharashtra is a highly urbanised State and over 42 per cent people are located in urban areas,'' Mr Deshmukh said.

From 1995 to 1999, Shiv Sena-BJP alliance government constructed 55 flyovers in the city, which helped in changing the traffic scenario of the city while after that today was the second occasion when the government has started constructing over nine km long, flyovers, to be built at a cost of Rs 416 crore. The task is expected to be completed within two years.

Congress MLA Kripa Shankar Singh in his speech demanded that the proposed Santacruz-Chembur flyover be named after former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi to which Mr Deshmukh said it would be done after the completion of the flyover.

Talking about Milan subway in Santacruz, that is always water logged in monsoon, Mr Deshmukh said an alternate arrangement would be made to solve the problem. The necessary permission has been secured from the Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel as the place is near the Domestic Airport.

UNI JM MJ/OBB AKJ RAI2351