RailEnquiry

MUMBAI: Commuting in the city has turned into a nightmarish exercise for most Mumbaikars who are caught in excruciatingly long snarls almost every day, choking under the onslaught of pollution and being sapped of their energy and time. But the transport scene in the city would not have reached this ghastly stage had certain major infrastructure projects, at least six of them, been implemented a decade ago. Those projects could have completely overhauled the commute system but owing to the lack of political and bureaucratic will, absence of focused and organized policies, vested political and corporate interests and differences within the ruling parties, work on them have not gone far beyond the drawing board. Though consultants made the proposals almost 50 years ago, the ground work is yet to take off. The West and East-Coast Waterways are two of those infrastructure plans that have been pending for over a decade. Had the authorities met the deadlines, these two would have opened up a sea route, cutting down on over 60,000 vehicles on roads and reducing the jostle on locals. By now, catamarans and hovercraft could have ferried passengers from Nariman Point to Borivli on the western coast and from Ferry Wharf to Mandwa on the east. Though Waterway I (west coast) has received its green clearance from the ministry of environment and forests years ago, a cabinet sub-committee, led by the chief minister, is yet to give its nod to contractors who will build jetties and who will subsequently operate ferries. According to a source, the tussle between the ruling Congress and the NCP and vested interest are resulting in the delay: while MSRDC, the executing agency of the project, is controlled by the NCP, the Congress-led urban development department has to give the final nod for the work to begin.

Similarly, work on the second airport in Navi Mumbai cannot take off as an empowered group of ministers has been sitting on a tender document, which has to be floated to invite developers. The reason was that the central authorities ruled by the Congress wanted higher stake in the development but the NCP-ruled Cidco, the executing agency, had already claimed the major share, said a source. "Despite eco-clearance in 2010 and claims to start construction by 2012, not a single stone has moved on the ground," said a source.

The MTHL, a sea link between Sewri and Nhava, seems to be one of the worst-hit. The proposal was made 40 years ago. Finally bidding started in 2004 but even those feel through. Over the years, owing to paucity of funds, the NCP-led MSRDC transferred the plan to MMRDA, controlled by the Congress. But despite the change of hands, not much has improved with the project, which promises to decongest roads in the city and also move business activities towards Navi Mumbai.

Within the city, CM Prithviraj Chavan has been backing a proposal for a coastal road from Worli to Cuffe Parade. But it apparently needs amendments to the environment Act. According to a source, its fate now seems to be dependent on the Lok Sabha elections in 2014.

The authorities also have alternative road plans, but may not materialize as the contract for the second Metro route faces scrapping. MMRDA planned an elevated route for it, but the conditions required to make it financially viable have not yet been fulfilled. Residents want it to go underground.