$60 bn-plan for Mumbai makeover: Deshmukh

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Mumbai, October 31:: Maharashtra government has drawn up an ambitious USD 60 billion (Rs 2.25 lakh crore) action plan for makeover of Mumbai, aimed to convert India's commercial capital into a global financial hub.

"Our government is serious on transforming Mumbai into a global financial centre and the plan is aimed at transforming the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) into a modern urban centre", he said in an interview on the eve of his Democratic Front government completing three years.

"Call it the 2020 vision if you like. The Rs 2.25 lakh crore-plan would be implemented during the next 10 years", he said.

Areas adjoining Mumbai, like Thane, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar and even part of Raigad district, are included in the MMR.

"Just developing Mumbai will not do. There need to be more townships in the adjoining regions. The objective is that people should not congest the city. People crowd Mumbai because they go to office or business here. If we provide the same facilities outside, they will not congest the city", he said.

Deshmukh said, "Mumbai makeover plan is aimed at creating world-class infrastructure and to set up an integrated urban transport system using existing suburban rail, ambitious metro rail system, hovercraft, sealink and road connectivity."

For the integrated urban transport system, a unified metropolitan authority called Urban Transport Management Authority would be set up to bring about an integrated fare structure and linkages among various modes of transport.

The operational integration would attempt at coordinated routine and scheduling rail, rapid transit system, bus services and water transport besides unification of fare structure, rationalising redundant services and coordinated public information system.

By this integrated approach, a commuter can buy a single ticket at the starting point and use different modes of transports such as suburban rail, metro rail, waterways and road transport to reach final destination.