 "BMC poll: Shiv Sena, BJP to counter demonetisation by development plank")
The ruling partners BJP and Shiv Sena, in the run up to the crucial election to the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) slated for February-March next year, plan to counter the campaign against demonetisation by the development plank.
The saffron parties are parallelly working a comprehensive strategy to play up infrastructure projects of over Rs 70,000 crore in the run up to the BMC poll.
Shiv Sena has been quite vocal to take on the BJP led government at the Centre against the demonetisation and its impact especially on common man while BJP believes that despite short term pains it will result in long-term gains. However, both the parties are unanimous that development agenda will help lure voters and thereby retain its supremacy in the Mumbai civic body.
Some of the key projects include the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Rs 17,750 crore), Mumbai coastal road (Rs 11,000 crore), the 40 km Dahisar-Charkop-Bandra-Mankhurd Metro corridor (Rs 25,000 crore), the 32 km Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ corridor (Rs 24,430 crore), the 32 km Wadala Ghatkopar Mulund Thane Kasarwadavali metro line (Rs 19,000 crore), the Bandra Versova sea link (Rs 7,500 crore), water transport along eastern coast connecting Ferry Wharf (Bhaucha Dhakka) and Belapur, Nerul, Vashi and Mandva. Most of these projects are being planned and developed by the state-run Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
The state government and MMRDA are in the midst of completion of necessary formalities to seek long-term loan at the concessional rate of interest from Japan International Cooperation Agency.
This apart Shiv Sena, which is at the drivers' seat in the civic body, also proposes to show case projects being developed or under implementation to upgrade water supply and sewage disposal schemes, strengthening the medical and health infrastructure and development of green corridors in Greater Mumbai.
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Further, BJP is also geared up to project a number of projects being proposed by the Mumbai Port Trust including cruise terminal, waterfront development and development of marina along the coast.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 24 will lay foundation stone for two metro lines and he is expected to launch BJP's poll campaign at the public meeting organised on the same day.
BJP's poll strategy is being pursued by none other than the chief minister Devendra Fadnavis while Shiv Sena is banking on the party president Uddhav Thackeray.
Fadnavis, who heads the infrastructure sub committee, recently reviewed the project implementation while Uddhav and his son Aditya, who heads Shiv Sena's youth wing, conducted a boat ride to see the present status of Mumbai coastal road.
Uddhav claims that it is his brain child while BJP has been taking a credit for putting in place necessary clearances after the formation of Modi-led government in May 2014. Mumbai coastal road project is being jointly developed by BMC and the state-run Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation.
Mumbai BJP unit chief Ashish Shelar said the BJP led government deserves due credit to expedite Mumbai infrastructure projects, some of them were languishing during UPA rule for want of various clearances. On the other hand, Uddhav said BMC deserves pat as it ensured less flooding in this year due to several development works. He noted that the civic body is proudly utilising its space for providing more health labs, services and improving the quality.