‘Maharashtra: Marching Ahead’ is the Cover Story of our August 2009 issue of EPC World. We spoke to dignitaries like Ashok Chavan, CM, Maharashtra, Dr Vimal Mundada, Minister, Public Works Department (PWD), Maharashtra, G S Gill, Vice Chairman & MD, City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) K Shivaji, CEO, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Ratnakar Gaikwad – Metropolitan Commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), S M Gavai, Vice Chairman & MD, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Valsa Nair Singh, Secretary, Environment, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Vijay Nahata, Commissioner, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) on the development and infrastructural aspects of Maharashtra.
Maharashtra is forging ahead of the other states in terms of industry and economy as it tops the country in its per capita income. “Maharashtra is going from strength to strength, both in the industrial and financial arena,” says CM, Maharashtra.
Public Works Department (PWD) is mainly entrusted with construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and government buildings. This department also acts as the technical advisor to the State Government. PWD have a programme, called “Ek Gaon, Ek Rasta” (One Village, One Road), where every village will have a road connectivity to the state highway. Apart from the large projects like airport, metro, which is still on the drawing board, CIDCO are planning to set up an exhibition centre. This exhibition centre, expected to be completed by June-July 2010 is believed to be the best in Western India, at an estimated cost of Rs170 crore.
MIDC is committed to maintain Maharashtra’s leadership position in industrialization across the country. It has always been a front runner in attracting Big Ticket investment in MIDC areas. The study of the Institute for Competitiveness has adjudged Maharashtra as highest planned project investment and high, increasing implementation rate and also to be the number 1 State in overall business competitiveness.
In order to accelerate the process of road development in Maharashtra, MSRDC was established on 9th July, 1996 and incorporated as a limited company on August 2, 1996 under the Indian Companies Act, 1956. MSRDC’s main role is to encourage public private participation (PPP) in transport infrastructure development of the state. Maharashtra Pollution Control Board formed in 1970, is the oldest and first state pollution control board in India. To minimize the impact of industrial activities on environment the board is set to launch the environment policy for the State. Today, Maharashtra state enjoys 34 common bio-medical waste treatment and disposal facilities constructed and operated under PPP.
MMRDA have initiated a process of Multi Modal Corridor, first of its kind project in India with more than 100 km length with an estimated cost of Rs10000 crore. MMRDA have also lined up many projects to connect Mumbai with the rest of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The Eastern Freeway, which starts from Shivaji Chowk in Chembur, with an estimated cost of Rs531 crore will be completed by next year.