The state government has decided to expedite the process of immediate transfer of government land for all infrastructure projects once it gets formal clearance. The delay in land transfer was cited as a major hurdle in mega projects. U P S Madan, metropolitan commissioner at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), said, “This will benefit several marquee infrastructure projects that might require large tracts of land such as the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro, two other Metro lines being worked out, the Virar-Alibaug Multi Modal Corridor, the NAINA project in Navi Mumbai and so on. The state government will soon come out with a resolution to allow advance possession of land for projects approved by the highest competent authority.” [related-post] The 33.5-km underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro, which has received the cabinet’s approval, requires 63.74 hectares of government land including a 30-hectare space for a car depot and could be one of the first beneficiaries of the government’s decision. In the case of the 30-hectare car depot, the state department of agriculture, dairy development, animal husbandry and fisheries had issued orders for handing over land at Aarey in Goregaon in March 2013. However, the MMRDA actually got possession of the land only a year later in March 2014. The 126-km Multi Modal Corridor, currently in the planning stage, which requires about 170 hectare of forest land and about 73 hectare of land under mangroves, besides vast stretches of farmlands, also stands to benefit from the decision. Madan said the decision is a result of the ‘war room’ set up under the CMO to accelerate 21 infrastructure projects that are directly being monitored by it. Ashwini Bhide, managing director of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, said, “I had earlier written to the chief minister with this suggestion. The issue was recently raised in the war room meeting. If a project is cleared by the state cabinet it means there is an intention to hand over the land anyway. The government has agreed.”
