MMRDA to focus on areas near city

"The next decade belongs to the area surrounding Mumbai." This is the new mantra of the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA). At a meeting on Saturday, the "think-tank" meeting decided to give more importance to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) by identifying multi-model corridors across the region. Explaining the idea of "multi-model corridors" MMRDA metropolitan commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad said that since the island city and suburbs of Mumbai are already strapped for space, MMRDA has decided to concentrate on the rest of the metropolitan region.

"There are several areas in the region whose infrastructure is lacking. These include Alibaug in Raigad and Virar. MMRDA will now concentrate on improving infrastructure in these areas," Gaikwad said.

And what are the ways to develop these areas? "We can construct distance modes of transport such as the metro and monorail,"  said Gaikwad.

MMRDA officials will now work out a resource mobilisation models. This would include acquiring plots, planning new roads and mono and metro rail networks.  An effort will be made to identify growth areas. "One concept discussed was the need to develop corridors keeping in mind the Information Technology sector. We have seen a fall in IT industry in Mumbai since cheaper options are available in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Pune. If we give incentives to commercial utilisation of these newly developed areas in MMR, the region may again see a boom in IT industry," said Gaikwad.

s_ninad@dnaindia.net