Maharashtra: BMC Worked Like 'Private Property' Of Some People, Now It Will Return To Public, Says Fadnavis
Fadnavis stated that "contractor-driven" road repairs will no longer be done in Mumbai while speaking at the launch of 500 BMC projects in the city's eastern and western suburbs.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had become a "private property" of some individuals, but the current state government has resolved to return it to the public.
He also stated that the city's concrete road development will be monitored through satellite to prevent irregularities.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) ruled the BMC for the previous 25 years.
Fadnavis was addressing the unveiling of 500 projects performed by the BMC in the city's eastern and western suburbs as part of the 'Mumbai Beautification Project.' These initiatives were launched at the Andheri Sports Complex in Andheri by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
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— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 10, 2022
"This dispensation neither intends to make the municipal corporation as its property nor is it interested in making any property out of it," Fadnavis remarked of the Shinde-led government. "Some people had acquired the municipal corporation of Mumbai, which was public property. It had become their own property. But now, the chief minister (Shinde) and I have determined that because it belongs to the people, it should be returned to them" Fadanvis stated without naming any individuals.
Since the term of the corporators expired earlier this year, the municipal commissioner was appointed as administrator to oversee the BMC's administrative matters until the elections.
Fadnavis stated that companies from both the national and international levels have now engaged in the contract process for the construction of concrete roads in Mumbai costing Rs 6,000 crore.
According to the top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician, "contractor-driven" road repairs will no longer be done in Mumbai.
"The new cement concrete roads, construction of which the BMC is going to start, will be monitored through a satellite. So nobody will be able to indulge in any irregularity. Five to seven years back, when we probed 200 road works, no quality material was found in them. Only husk was found, everything else was missing," Fadnavis said, adding that such things will not be tolerated henceforth and the chief minister has given instructions to maintain quality.
"Earlier, the contractors from national and international levels used to get disqualified, while local contractors used to be given the road contracts," he added.
He stated that the current state government will only have two years to complete the work, therefore it must move quickly.
Speaking on the occasion, CM Shinde stated that the civic body will begin concreting more than 400 kilometres of roads next year, making Mumbai "pothole-free" in the next two and a half years.
"Mumbai is compared to small states since its budget size is big. Despite Mumbai being so prosperous, its citizens have to face troubles like potholes, debris, and broken footpaths. Every year, potholes on roads are filled with asphalt, but they appear again," Shinde said.
He stated that his government has decided to transform Mumbai and effect visible change.
Shinde stated that the civic body will appoint 5,000 locals as 'Cleanliness Ambassadors' (Swachhata Doot) and COVID soldiers.
The second phase of the Mumbai Beautification project, according to BMC commissioner/administrator Iqbal Singh Chahal, will include 1,200 works.
The BMC inaugurated 500 works around the island city on Thursday as part of the 'Mumbai Beautification Project.'
(With Inputs From PTI)
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