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Phase II of the Marine Drive beautification project has been stalled because the BMC cannot cope up with the budget. The Mumbai Metropoli-tan Regional Develop- ment Authority (MMRDA) that was supposed to carry out the Rs 100 crore-makeover will now focus on infrastructure projects.
"We have been asked by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to concentrate on infrastructure and road projects and stay away from the Marine Drive beautification project," said an MMRDA official.
Dilip Kawathkar, PRO, MMRDA, said, "We will be concentrating on regional infrastructure and will look at improving the metropolitan region in a massive way," said Dilip Kawathkar, PRO MMRDA.
Additional municipal commissioner R A Rajeev said, "Many of the proposed elements in the planned makeover were unfeasible. We may come up with a different plan and revive phase II later." The MMRDA completed phase 1 of the beautification project that included granite stonework and laying paver blocks in August.
Failed makeover
Phase II of the Marine Drive beautification project involved creating a sunset point in front of NCPA, an observatory which went 200 metres into the sea, glass capsule elevators on one of the iconic Art Deco buildings, an amphitheatre at Chowpatty, underground parking near the gymkhanas opposite the promenade, high and low tide decks in front of the Air India building, an eco walk along the sea and revamping Art Deco buildings. | 
