MMRDA gives neighbouring cities a boost

Infrastructure development is set to get a major boost in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Dombivili and Kalyan. All the three municipal corporations (Dombivili-Kalyan is a single entity) will get a financial loan package of Rs1,154 from Mumbai Metropolitan Regional
Development Authority (MMRDA) for projects related to storm water drain, water supply and solid waste management.

The metropolitan authority caters to the development needs of Mumbai and five other cities near it, all of which are covered by the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Among the 74 projects sent by the state-level steering committee for approval under the JNNURM, 23 have been cleared.

A metropolitan authority official said they would partially fund the projects. The authority on February 10 had agreed to provide loans for a period of 15 years with an annual interest of 8%. The authority will give Rs634.09 crore to Navi Mumbai, while Thane will get Rs408 crore and Kalyan-Dombivili Rs112.52 crore,” he said. MMRDA has approved some projects of the corporations which are not a part of JNNURM.