As the BJP is back in power in Maharashtra, speculations are rife that stuck infra projects like the Bullet train, redevelopment of Dharavi, Sewri BDD Chawl and cess buildings may finally gather pace.
An example of the BJP thrusting the projects into limbo is the Metro car shed at Aarey.
During the previous Devendra Fadnavis government, the Metro facility was planned here. However, it was met with stiff resistance from green activists, and to an extent, the Shiv Sena.
The new government has scrapped the Sena’s move and brought it back to Aarey from Kanjurmarg, the new proposed site.
The following projects were put in cold storage owing to the friction between the Centre and the erstwhile state government.
DHARAVI REDEVELOPMENT
Despite the state giving Rs 800 crore to the Railways, the project is pending for the last 16 years as the land's ownership is yet to be transferred.
The previous Fadnavis government had invited tender and formed a Special Purpose Vehicle, too. However, MVA scrapped the tender in October 2020 and issued fresh tenders.
MUMBAI-AHMEDABAD BULLET TRAIN
The project hit a roadblock owing to the land acquisition process. The rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, now the CM, holds much sway in Thane and Palghar, which are en route to the project.
Out of the total 508-km project, 348 km is in Gujarat, 4 km in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and the remaining 156 km in Maharashtra.
SEWRI BDD CHAWL
The redevelopment of the 100-year-old chawl got stuck owing to the Centre's rejection of the proposal. It reasoned that there is no provision for enacting the proposal in its present form.
MUMBAI PORT TRUST (MBPT) DEVELOPMENT PLAN
On the backburner for the past three years, the draft development plan didn't get approval from the MVA.
The port authority had obtained close to 950 objections.
DILAPIDATED BLDGS UNDER RESTRICTED DEFENCE ZONE
Old buildings are located in prominent places of Cuffe Parade, Juhu, Ghatkopar, and Kandivali.
City developers vying with the state and Centre for expediting redevelopment.
No response from Centre for the past several years; a ray of hope emerges now with the BJP at the helm of affairs.
