Mumbai : Newly elected MP from Mumbai South-Central, Rahul Shewale, has promised a complete makeover of Mumbai city.
Initiation and completion of various projects like the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), also known as Sewri-Nhava Sheva Trans Harbour Link, the coastal road project, the Churchgate-Virar elevated rail corridor, Gargai-Pinjal dam project are on his priority list.
This 41-year-old Diploma holder in Civil Engineering from Government Polytechnic, Bandra, defeated Eknath Gaikwad of the Congress by 1.38 lakh votes.
He was unhappy that projects like the metro rail were taking decades to complete when the same party was in power at the centre and in the state.
He said that the Middle Vaitarna project was delayed because it took almost eight years to complete the formalities and getting permission from the environment ministry and various other departments. However, it took only 3 years to complete the construction work and build the dam.
The delay in getting permissions from various departments not only extends the project deadline but also increases the cost four-fold. The BMC and state together would undertake these projects, with assistance from the MMRDA. They already have an approval of Rs 71 thousand crores.
Since he was the Chairman of the standing committee in BMC, he said that he was also concentrating on Zero garbage project, solid waste management, storm water drainage, 100% concretization of road in Mumbai, hospital improvement and education improvement within BMC limits.
He would be personally looking into the desilting work of the Mithi River to avoid floods. He would be using his expertise he earned during his stint in BMC as head of various departments like Law committee member, Market and Garden Committee chairman, Ward Committee Chairman. Even the harbour line will get a completely new look as it would undergo quadrupling of tracks with addition of fast trains to its services.
Vishal Rajemahadik
