The state-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), has decided to rope in leading Austrian firms for the implementation of various infrastructure projects costing over Rs 10,000 crore.
The issue to decide to rope in Austrian firms was discussed at a meeting between the state public works minister and MSRDC chairman Vikramsinh Patankar and the Austrian ambassador Herbert Traxl.
Patankar said: "The Austrian ambassador is quite impressed by the various initiatives taken by MRSDC for infrastructure development in the state, and has offered to take up these projects with Austrian companies for their involvement."
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Traxl said the Austrian firms may have a joint venture or a financial\technical tie-up for the projects. However, he declined to divulge the nature of partnership by the companies from his country on the grounds that they were still at an early stage of talks." The Austrian companies have been involved in Indian projects since the 60s, and they would certainly think about their association with MSRDC," he added.
The list of projects include: the mass transit system project for Thane and Nagpur (with each project costing Rs 1200 crore and Rs 5000 crore respectively), the development of New Mahabaleshwar as a tourist attraction (wherein the MSRDC has earmarked Rs 600 crore for phase-I), the Rs 5,000-crore Nhava Sheva-Sewree link and the Nagpur hub project costing Rs 8,000 crore.
Traxl further highlighted that the Austrian companies have expertise in the development of mass transit system, metro system, rail system and airports. "These companies may play a major role, especially when India is concentrating on infrastructure development," he said.
Patankar, accompanied by MSRDC vice-chairman Ajit Nimbalkar, and Infrastructure Development Consultants managing director Chandrashekhar Tembekar, said, MSRDC was committed to carry out these projects on a priority basis. It has already completed the feasibility study for the Rs 1,200-crore Thane mass transit system, while similar studies have already been launched for Pune and Nagpur mass transit system.