MMRDA to strive for balanced growth

Mumbai, Aug 9 (UNI) Newly-appointed Metropolitan Commissioner of Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) Ratnakar Gaikwad today said he would strive to ensure balanced growth of Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with emphasis on improvement of Transportation system.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Gaikwad asserted he wanted continuous dialogue and co-operation among all the stake holders of MMRDA, which included seven Municipal corporations of Mumbai,Thane, Kalyan-Dombivili, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Mira-Bhayander and Bhiwandi-Nizampur.

''Besides, there are 13 municipal councils and 950 villages under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. It was a area covering 4335 sq.km.

Even as the MMRDA works for a balanced growth, focus is no doubt on Mumbai,''Mr Gaikwad pointed out.

Having worked as Additional Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai and Municipal commissioner of Pune, Mr Gaikwad said the Mumbai Metropolitan region spanned over 4355 sq.km covering four districts of Mumbai City, Mumbai Suburbs, Thane and Raigad.

Mr Gaikwad said there was no question of MMRDA tampering over the authority of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). ''No doubt, BMC is supreme in the city's affairs. MMRDA is the supporting agency.

Due my earlier stint in the BMC, I know that nobody has the grassroot infrastructure like the ward office in the BMC. The job of MMRDA, Police, PWD and other agencies is to ensure that the ward office and the BMC is strengthened'', he said.

Mr Gaikwad said he would hold regular meetings with the Municipal commissioners of all the civic bodies falling under MMRDA jurisdiction as well the elected representatives. MMRDA is in the process of preparing a list of issues which need to be discussed.

He felt that approach of MMRDA needs to be people centric especially the poor. ''I will focus on weekly meetings on critical issues. we cannot ignore the fact that 60 per cent of Mumbai's population lives in slums. We will evolve a mechanism where minutes,decisions are recorded and are implemented before the next meeting.'' Referring to the contentious issue of rehabilitation of the slums from the land belonging to Airport Authority of India (AAI) near the Mumbai airport, Mr Gaikwad said he has held meetings with the NGOs and airport authorities on the issue. ''We are in the process of identifying suitable location to relocate the 70,000-80,000 families. This is equivalent to establishing a district headquarter.

Airlink is also important and hence we are exploring various options to ensure that the airport modernisation programme goes on,''he added.

Describing his present posting as the most challenging in his 32 year career as bureaucrat, Mr Gaikwad said MMRDA objectives of infrastructure development cannot be achieved without people's support and goodwill. Otherwise, it is difficult to tackle the problem of resettlement.

UNI