12,969.35 crore earmarked for infrastructure projects

Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) chaired the 150th authority meeting on Tuesday and received an approval on the budget for the financial year 2021-22. A budget outlay of Rs 12,969.35 crore has been approved in the said meeting. In this budget, special provisions for infrastructure projects, such as public transport and Metro, have been made. This will help reduce the congestion in Mumbai and ensure that Mumbaikars have a comfortable and shorter commute, MMRDA stated.

Interestingly, the highest fund allocation has been made for the Metro rail projects of Rs 4,571.25 crore, followed by the Mumbai Trans Harbour Sealink project amounting to Rs 2,900.35 crore. Furthermore, MMRDA has separately earmarked Rs 250 crore for the Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ (third corridor) underground Metro project being executed by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL). Metro Line 2-A (Dahisar to DN Nagar in Andheri) and Line 7 (Dahisar East to Andheri East) is likely to begin commercial operations from this year and has been provided an outlay of Rs 700.65 crore and Rs 999.45 crore, respectively. Besides, allocations have been made for surveys and grants amounting to Rs 175.35 crore, loan disbursement and fixed deposits amounting to Rs 273 crore and capital expenditure for administrative purposes amounting to Rs 548.60 crore. In the budget for the 2021-22 financial year, MMRDA has expected an expenditure of Rs 12,969.35 crore and an amount of Rs 9,833.75 crore is expected to be received.

In addition, the authority has approved the annual report for the year 2019-20. Moreover, sanctions have been given for the extension of the Metro Railway 2-B (DN Nagar to Mandale) interchange and the Metro Railway corridor-7 (Andheri East to Dahisar East) interchange. The MMRDA also approved the appointment of a project management consultant for the sur face topping of the Eastern Express Highway and for work on the Western Express Highway.