MMRDA-like body to be set up across state

Other cities in Maharashtra will soon have an authority on the lines of the Maharashtra Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA), which is chaired by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, to expedite infrastructure works. The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved the decision and the draft will be presented in the Assembly soon to make it an Act.

The body will be called the Maharashtra Region Development Authority.

The proposed authority will work on infrastructure projects like the Nagpur and Pune metro, flyovers, smart cities etc. The authority will also coordinate with existing civic bodies that are working on the on going infrastructure projects.

The decision has been taken to have a single authority to deal with infrastructure projects in other cities and towns. “At present, respective civic bodies are handling the projects. The Nagpur Metro, for example, has been led by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. The Maharashtra Region Development Authority is expected to lead all the projects across the state so that handling will be easier. The Mumbai authority has done well and hence we have decided to have the separate body for infrastructure works,” a senior official from the urban development department said.

The urban development department will present the Bill of the authority in the monsoon session of the state legislature. The functioning of authority will be decentralised so that local offices can take decision regarding local projects like funding, approvals etc. “The authorities will have regional offices in every town so that the focus will be maximum on particular infrastructure work,” the official added.

The MMRDA, which was set up on January 26, 1975 under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority Act, 1974 by the Government of Maharashtra, has been looking after Mumbai and surrounding area that has eight corporations and nine councils. The authority has worked on projects like metro rail, monorail, flyovers, enhancing east-west connectivity of the city and is now working on smart city initiative announced by the Centre.