In today’s Times of India , Mumbai edition, when I read this particular news item, the first thought that came to my mind was that are the ministers and officials of Maharashtra govt so dumb or there is some hidden meaning in the news item. The news item is that Maharashtra govt wants to re align Mumbai Pune Expressway by 19.8 Km by spending Rs 4798 crores so that travel time between two cities can be reduced by 20 minutes.According to me no sane person in the country can justify this type of expenditure to save just 20 minutes of travel time.
Further details of this project:
- The work is going to be executed by Maharashtra State road Development Corporation(MSRDC).
- MSRDC will have to acquire about 266 acres of land to execute this project. Out of this 106 acres is private owned land and balance 160 acres is forest land. The cost acquisition is estimated at Rs 1484 crores. The process of acquiring forest land is already started.
- Some part of re alignment also passes through Lonavala Municipal Corporation area.
- The part of this project also include widening of certain sections of existing Express way.
- As per the news report , this alignment was approved by govt in 2015. It is very surprising that till today , I have not seen any news report in any section of media regarding this project.
My few observations on this project
a. What is the fun of saving 20 minutes on Expressway, when the conditions of roads in Mumbai are so pathetic. If the same condition persists then it will take more time to reach Panvel from South Munbai, than time spent on Expressway.
b.It is better to improve first city roads in Mumbai than spending such a amount of tax payers’ money on this project. There is a statement by one Transport Expert Ashok Datar saying that govt needs to resolve the problems of poor roads in Mumbai and other cities, garbage disposal and slum clearance rather than few grand engineering projects.
c.Is the Central Green Tribunal is aware of that this project is going to destroy 160 acres of forest area? Where are the Green activist now or they operate only when forest land in Aarey , Mumbai is to be acquired for Metro project.
d.Whether the govt is going to reveal the names of private land owners from whom they are going to acquire 106 acres of land at the rate of Rs 14 crore per acre. I feel there must be some politicians involved, who must be owning this private lands or earlier they must have bought the same at cheaper rates from farmers.
I think Devendra Phadnavis’s govt is spending unnecessarily on some infra projects which are not the need of the hour, like this project and even Mumbai Nagpur Expressway, when the state govt is debt ridden and now there is an additional burden of Rs 34,000 crores of Farmer’s loan waiver.
What you say my friends.
Awaiting for your feed backs and comments.
Mohit Agarwal
Very Good Observation Sir, Situation of Cities roads first improve than go for other big Nonsense projects for wasting public money. Destroying forests leads to harm in many ways. First improve existing infrastructure than go for building new.
Anil Malik Post author
Thanks Mohit for your comments.
Bobby
Even as I admire your logic, I’ve also asked myself why that portion of the expressway slows traffic down to so great an extent. Quite often that stretch is where the trucks break down or drive so slowly that it takes away from the smoothness of the whole drive.
But I agree, are we rich enough to spend so much just for a pleasant drive? Well, if loans amounting to an astronomical 30,000/- crores of my tax money can be waived, why not give me some luxuries like driving comfort!!!
Way to go Anil! Cheering your thoughts on..!
Anil Malik Post author
My point was why alignment now at the cost of Rs 4800 cr, why they never thought earlier, just to save 20 mins. If they improve Mumbai roads and traffic the drive to Pune may take half an hour less. As I mentioned there has to be some catch in it.