The Congress election manifesto is just 'old wine in new bottle'. The party has promised to close down five toll plazas where motorists are forced to pay while entering Mumbai.
Congress state unit president Manikrao Thakre, ex-chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, manifesto committee chief Sushilkumar Shinde, members Bhalchandra Mungekar, press committee in-charge and ex-minister Harshawardhan Patil, AICC in-charge of Maharashtra Mohan Prakash, Mumbai unit president Janardan Chandurkar were present during the release of the manifesto.
The 16-page document produced by a 38-member committee, which worked for almost a month, promises nothing new. Replying to a question, Chavan said even though there should not be two tolls within a distance of 60 km, there are toll plazas in Mumbai which are against this norm. He added that this had resulted in evoking public anger and agitations. He admitted that the decision to set up toll plazas in such short distances was wrong but made it clear that he was not party to this decision. He said that there is a need to inquire into this matter.
Chavan said that when it was found that private builders did not come forward for redevelopment in Dharavi's slum areas, the government undertook redevelopment through MHADA and one building has been built.
He also said that the Congress has promised to make Maharashtra's economy a knowledge-economy. The party has promised to provide free education to the girl child up to graduation. It has also promised to give free Tab to all poor students who have passed ninth standard and want to pursue further education. It has promised eight memorials, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj memorial in Arabian Sea, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar memorial at Indu Mill, Jiva Mahale memorial and Vasantrao Naik memorial.
The manifesto makes it clear that Congress is not in favour of a separate Vidarbha state. Chavan made it clear that the backlog of development would be made up with a statutory development board and steps would be taken to develop Nagpur as a city of international standards.
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