City to soon get single planning authority
An ‘empowered mayor’ will have the final say over every other implementing authority: Minister
MUMBAI: After talking about a single planning authority for Mumbai for the last five years, the idea may soon see the light of the day as state tourism and environment minister Aaditya Thackeray said on Thursday that it could be launched within this year.
The government plans to launch it under the mayor of the city, who will have the last word over every implementing authority such as the Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).
Thackeray, who is also the guardian minister of Mumbai suburban, said on Thursday that the city will get a singular planning authority this year with an “empowered mayor” and deliberations during the process are underway. However, he clarified that the implementation of projects will remain with multiple agencies including MMRDA.
Thackeray was speaking at an international conference on Climate Crisis 2.0 - Mobilizing Finance for Coastal Cities, jointly organised by Mumbai First, the government of Maharashtra, European Union and the Consulate of Netherlands.
A senior bureaucrat, who did not wish to be named, said, “There has to be a single planning authority. All plans must merge. Everyone has different priorities. For example, MMRDA may prioritise transport, MHADA may prioritise housing, but Mumbai has its priority that must be put above all else.”
Presently, apart from the civic body, there are multiple planning authorities in Mumbai, such as MMRDA, MHADA, Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT). While these carry out the planning and implementation of projects in their jurisdiction, BMC provides amenities such as roads, water.
DM Sukthankar, the former BMC commissioner, said, “Having multiple planning agencies for Mumbai was an aberration, and was intended for a short period of time. A single planning authority should be a priority for a city like Mumbai, for more efficiency.”