Mumbai development plan scrapped

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) had been ordered to prepare a fresh plan within four months.

Fundamental flaws

After the MCGM notified the DP for Mumbai on February 24, political parties, city planners and activists objected, saying the plan was fundamentally flawed.

The plan allowed a huge increase in FSI in densely built up areas such as Dadar. Over 1,000 heritage structures including the Town Hall and the Marine Drive were omitted in the plan. The 3,166 acre-Aarey colony in suburban Mumbai was also marked for residential and commercial development in the plan. The colony mainly consists of verdant grasslands and open areas, which serve as green lungs for the city.

Ground reality

COO of Maitreya Realtors & Constructions, Pankaj Srivastava, in a press release said that from the concept stage the DP had many flaws. “Numerous playgrounds and open spaces had been marked as hospitals. Roads were delineated through various housing societies and mangrove forests. There is just no relation between the plan and the reality on the ground,” Srivastava said.

Political parties including Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had registered its opposition. It claimed that the plan was designed by vested interests “to deprive the local sons of the soil of their space in the city.”

President of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee, Sanjay Nirupam, said that the plan was drawn up by planners using Google Maps sitting outside the country. “As a result, the plan failed to address crucial issues relating to housing, infrastructure provisions like roads, play grounds, water supply and fire stations, education and health amenities,” Nirupam said.

Even Bollywood stars criticised the plan. Lyricist Javed Akhtar called it a noose round Mumbai’s neck, and called for street protests to oppose it.
Business Line.