WB to assist Mah Govt for 'Vision Mumbai'

Mumbai, Aug 21 (UNI) The World Bank today assured the Maharashtra government that it would provide full assistance to the state in fulfilling its project 'Vision Mumbai' for which more than 50 billion US Dollars expenditure is expected.

The assurance was given by World Bank's country director Ezabel Gurero during her meeting with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh at his official residence Varsha in South Mumbai.

The development of Mumbai Metropolitan Region beyond the limits of city and its suburbs is a part of the Vision Mumbai project, for which this amount is required.

Mr Deshmukh said everyday 500 new vehicles registered in the city. So despite undertaking some major facilities for smoothening vehicular traffic, congestion prevailed.

He further added that the government was also considering to introduce a 'Congestion tax' to control the heavy traffic.

He pointed that one of the solutions to resolve the road cogestion was to construct more elevated roads and railways in Mumbai.

The state government had also demanded assistance from the World Bank for the 'Jalswaraj' project, which would be implemented in 3,161 villages, for which Rs 1,395 crore expenditure was expected, he added.

UNI