World Bank mission notes progress in resettlement of the project affected

Demolition of MHADA buildings, following appropriate compensation, paves way for faster SCLR implementation
The mission asks for more aggressive action plan for concluding MUTP
Appointment of KPMG welcomed

Mumbai, February 18, 2010 – The World Bank team, after a careful review of various components of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), today wrapped up its mission noting some significant progress and pending challenges in the implementation of the MUTP Project. The wrap-up meeting chaired by Mr.J.P.Dange, Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra, was held today.

The Mission held meetings with various stakeholders of the project such as Government of Maharashtra (GoM), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), Brihan Mumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Mumbai Traffic Police (MTP). The Mission also carried out field visits to project sites including Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR), Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) and Area Traffic Control sites.

“The demolition, following appropriate compensation, of the 12 MHADA buildings on the Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) is certainly a major achievement. This will lead to faster implementation of SCLR. The solution, though temporary, found for the Hanuman temple on the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road (JVLR) will also help hasten implementation on this important link road. There are, however, a few issues related to land acquisition both on JVLR and SCLR which still remain and need to be addressed in the coming months”, said Mr.Hubert Nove-Josserand, Task Team Leader (MUTP), World Bank, further.

“The KPMG study has been useful in identifying areas for improvement which we intend to address on a fast track. This will result in a noticeable improvement in the pace of implementation of the project. In the mean time, we have registered 174 societies and 7 more proposals are under process. The Community Maintenance fund also has been distributed to the 155 registered societies and 8 more proposals are under process. The maintenance deposit has also been credited to the joint account for 156 buildings and the interested accrued thereon has been distributed to more than 150 societies”, Mr.SVR Srinivas, Project Director (MUTP) and Additional Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, updated the media with more facts.

The Mission also visited Area Traffic Control (ACT) sites and expressed satisfaction about the over all functioning. At present the system is functioning at 222 junctions and the same will also be operative at 189 more junctions soon.

The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has received In all 24 twelve-car new design EMU rakes manufactured by ICF, Chennai, during the last six months. During this period the MRVC has also introduced 313 additional services on the Central and Western Railway. In all 401 services have been converted from 9-car to 12-car. Introduction of 12 fifteen-car services were also introduced on the Western Railway. The Virar-Dahanu Road section is also almost ready and will be operative soon. The work between Kurla-Thane is also heading towards completion by June 2010. Mission, however, expressed concern about the procurement of wheels, which has slowed down the process of introducing new rakes in the past two months.

It was also observed by the Mission that MMRDA should now, in consultation with the MCGM, draw up an exit strategy as far as the R&R colonies are concerned. The Mission said that it was confident that the formal transfer of responsibility from MMRDA to MCGM will happen soon.

“The decision regarding extension will be taken by the World Bank management once MMRDA submits its action plan for completion. This is expected by end of April 2010. The decision will be based on specific triggers jointly identified during this mission which will need to be addressed by MMRDA and other implementing agencies in the next couple of months”, said Mr.Nove-Josserand while replying to the query from the media.