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Bombay-Pune expressway gets green signal

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has given the green signal to the Rs 15-billion six-lane Bombay-Pune express highway. Gujral had taken a keen interest in convincing the environment ministry officials to clear the project before October 1.

A state government team, led by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi, had an hour-long discussion with the prime minister and and briefed him about the development projects undertaken by the state. Joshi had impressed upon Gujral the importance of the Bombay-Pune expressway. The prime minister has assured Joshi that he would inaugurate the project work.

Meanwhile, Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan has approved the formation of a Mumbai (Bombay) Rail Development Corporation.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, the chief minister said the expressway was delayed by over a year due to non-clearance from the environment ministry. Joshi said he had met the prime minister thrice earlier and sought his help. The prime minister has accepted the state's invitation to inaugurate the project work, he said. The expressway will be completed within 10 years.

Turning to the issue of Bombay suburban rail travel, the chief minister said the railway ministry has permitted the formation of the Mumbai Rail Development Corporation. The state government and the railways are in the final stage of hammering out the details. The rail corporation will be set up at the earliest, in accordance with the prescription of the World Bank, he said.

Joshi said that slum-dwellers living along railway lines in Bombay would be shifted to create space on both sides of the tracks. Shifting the slum-dwellers will facilitate improving and increasing the railway service and they would be provided residential land in the vacant areas in north Bombay.

The cost and budget for forming the rail corporation will be discussed at the next state cabinet meeting, he added.

Compiled and translated from the Marathi media by Prasanna Zore