IMC to commission study on transportation in western India

Mumbai, Aug 23 (UNI) The Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC) will commission a four-month feasibility study on the transportation and infrastructure in western India.

The go ahead for the first-of-its-kind study to identify the bottlenecks in surface transportation and infrastructure with allied issues like octroi, toll checks and levies between Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Goa was given here today.

The study will provide a bluprint for better linkages among the states with special emphasis on coastal and waterways connecting the states. The study, however, will not cover aviation.

The report is expected to be ready by December and will be presented by the IMC to the respective governments of the states.

''The study is not a narrow perspective on the needs of the industry alone, but with a view to improve the overall economic development of the region,'' said Suneet Maheshwari, Chairman of IMC Infrastructure Committee, after an internal brainstorming session on the issue with industry captains today.

He said the improvement in linkages across the region that contributes as much as 1/3 of the country's GDP would not only benefit the industries but those in farming as farming products could have easier access to markets.

''We are aware that they states will have their respective plans, and our task is complex and large. But after submitting the plan, we'll use all our pursuasive power to convince the government,'' he said, adding, the IMC was open to collaborate with other chambers to transform its vision to reality.

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