Good governance structure needed for Mumbai's development: Ubale

Mumbai, Feb 21 (UNI) State Secretary (Special Projects) Sanjay Ubale has underscored that only a good governance structure can usher in Mumbai's development.

He was making a presentation at the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) here today on the occassion of the ''Management Day'' hosted jointly by the Bombay Management Association and the All India Management Association.

Mr Ubale said the State Government has initiated several projects with a view to transform Mumbai into a ''World Class City''.

He said that three years back, the economic growth of Mumbai was lower than the rest of the state, around to four per cent. But, the state administration has arrested the decline and the city has once again turned into an economic powerhouse.

Mr Ubale said a major revamp of the railways is on the pipeline, followed by metro projects and the Worli sea link to decongest the traffic. The revamp of the suburban railways will reduce overcrowding, he said.

On the housing crisis, Mr Ubale said it is a creation of the governments that reigned in the 70s. Those governments presumed that the city will not grow beyond a population of 70 lakh. The Urban Land Ceiling Act also consumed away large chunks of land, he added.

Conservation architect and Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) executive director Pankaj Joshi, while speaking on the occasion, said sale of land to group of companies or specific builders has been the reason for the growing destitution and the skyrocketing prices.

He added that large chunks of land are lying unutilized on the Eastern water front, which can be used by the government for building economic housing through proper housing policies.

UNI