Expressing shock over absence of bidders for the ambition 22-km-long Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad today said private participation is very essential for overall growth of the region.
Expressing shock over absence of bidders for the ambition 22-km-long Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad today said private participation is very essential for overall growth of the region.
"Whatever may be the project, private participation is very important and it will help in overall development across the MMR," Gaikwad said during a seminar on Economic Growth strategy for MMR here.
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The MMRDA has promised 100 per cent payment to aspiring bidders for the project at the time of bidding in the last week of February yet no companies showed any interest.
"Despite the MMRDA's cash contract model for Trans Harbour Link project, no caretaker (bidder) had come forward when the bidding was held. I was shocked," he said.
The Rs 6,000-crore trans harbour link is to play a crucial role in the growth of services and industries in the hinterland across harbour. Its aims at decongesting the financial city by connecting it to the upcoming SEZ and Navi Mumbai.
Gaikwad also emphasised that it was not only MMRDA but other government agencies were also equally responsible for the development and their co-ordination was equally necessary for growth of MMR.
"The MMRDA is also concentrating on various areas like water resources, power and housing project without which sustainable growth is not possible," Gaikwad said.
The MMR, measuring 4,355 sq km, constitutes of Mumbai including suburbs and some parts of Thane district -- Thane, Kalyan, Bhivandi, Ulhasnagar and Vasai and parts of Raigadh district -- Uran, Panvel, Karjat. It comprises five Municipal corporations and 16 municipal councils.
Indian Merchant's Chamber President M N Chaini said that there was a need to address the problems arising out of governance. "There is a need of good governance. For every project, we need to take permissions of various agencies and it is very confusing and time consuming.
Procedure should be made simpler to encourage private participation," he said.
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