‘Manmohan means well for Mumbai’

Manmohan Singh has gained reputation as the Prime Minister whose heart beats for Mumbai. And not just in the Maharashtra Congress, but among other political parties as well. Singh, on his eighth visit to the city after becoming PM, told Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh: “I want to make Mumbai more liveable for both classes and masses, and your administration should strive to achieve that goal.”

Deshmukh said the PM wanted to expedite the development process in the city. “He takes interest in every project and clinically assess it. Without his initiative it would not be possible for us to pursue mega projects like the Bandra-Worli Sea-Link, Middle Vaitarna or Brimstowad. He has promised to consider another seven pending Mumbai projects (costing Rs27,000 crore).” Narendra Jadhav, chief economist of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), and someone who worked with Singh, the then governor of RBI, in 1984, believes Singh realises the importance of infrastructure.

“The PM is sincerely concerned about Mumbai’s development as it is the economic nerve centre of India. The country cannot march ahead without Mumbai,” he said.

Congress leader Hussain Dalwai argued that unlike the PM, Maharashtra leaders including those in the Congress, often confined development plans to Western Maharashtra in the past and neglected Mumbai.

BJP’s Vinod Tawde said: “ We can find faults on policies but as an individual it is difficult to criticise Singh. I agree he means well for Mumbai.” According to state Finance minister Jayant Patil of the NCP, the Singh should ask the Planning Commission to allocate more funds for Mumbai.