Expedite work on projects: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Worried about big projects that have been stuck for various reasons, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday instructed his officials to expedite redevelopment of Bhendi Bazaar, the Coastal Road, Metro-3, Elevated Metro, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), NIMA and some irrigation projects. In a meeting held at Mantralaya, he reviewed the progress of flagship projects monitored by the CMO war room.

“There was a general review of the ongoing infrastructure projects in the state. The officials presented the current status of the projects and if there were facing any hurdle. The chief minister told them to expedite it so that the works are completed within the stipulated deadline,” an official from Mantralaya, who attended the meeting, said.

Mr Fadnavis directed civil work for the Metro 3 Colaba-Bandra-Seepz be started by May. He appreciated the efforts taken by officials for the metro-3 line which has saved two years of time, he added.

On the much-delayed MTHL, the chief minister instructed that the request for quotation process for work contract and signing of loan agreement be completed at the earliest. The ambitious project that will connect Sewri to Nava Sheva in Navi Mumbai must start before October 31, this year, the chief minister said.

On the pending Navi Mumbai International Airport project, the chief minister asked officials to speed up pre-development works. A lot of rehabilitation of the villagers in the area is still in the process.

Mr Fadnavis also reviewed the progress of irrigation projects including Lower Wardha, Bembla and Gosikhurd.

The authorities are yet complete the rehabilitation and land acquisition process for the irrigation project. A few have even gone to the court over the Gosikhurd project, which has further delayed the process.

The officials made presentations for end-to-end digitisation of the Public Distribution System with an online ration card management system. The measures were taken to curb bogus ration cards and ensure that only eligible people get food grains.

The officials said that most ration cards were already digitised and 5.76 crore Aadhaar card seeding was already done.

The chief minister told them to complete this project by October this year, said a source.