Missing the wood for the trees

BMC is too busy chasing big-ticket projects, as smaller and vital ones fall off its radar

In its rush to pursue big ticket-projects, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) seems to have lost track of smaller, but vital projects like 24-hour water supply, mid-day meal schemes for impoverished schoolkids and underground parking projects.

Some of these projects were announced in the last BMC budget and some declared even before. “The BMC should not forget about the smaller projects while focusing on the poster projects. The utility of the poster projects is long-term. However, smaller projects impact the life of citizens on a daily basis,” said a Shiv Sena corporator, requesting confidentiality.

But this is not the first time small projects have been dropped by the BMC. The list of previously dropped small projects include a 'Mumbai Darshan' planned on the lines of London Eye, a wax museum, prepaid water meters and so on.

However, according to a civic official, “The BMC does not prioritise large projects over the smaller once. We have not dropped these projects. We are trying to figure out a way forward as these projects are stuck in litigation and environmental clearances,” said a civic official.

Underground parking and theme parks are facing environmental and legal restrictions respectively, while the BMC has not been able to deliver on projects like 24-hour water supply and mid-day meal schemes, despite repeated assurances.

The BMC presented a Rs 30,686-crore budget on February 4, an increase of over 12 per cent as compared to the previous year.