Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addresses the 'Mumbai Next' seminar in the city
Mumbai: As the first BJP-led government in Maharashtra completes 100 days in power today, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has embarked on a programme to transform Mumbai and its suburbs into a global commercial, financial and entertainment hub.
Titled 'Mumbai Next', the programme is a partnership between the Maharashtra government, the Union Ministry of Finance, the Government of India and private players. Top businessmen including Mukesh and Anil Ambani, Tata Chairman Cyrus Mistry as well as Bollywood personalities including actor Amitabh Bachchan were present at the launch of the programme on Friday.
The Ambani brothers expressed concerns over delays in implementation of projects and decision-making.
"We have been struggling for an airport, the coastal road and even education. How do you see that changing, in terms of financing and execution and getting these projects that are stuck for the last many, many years?", Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani asked Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
His younger brother and ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani added, "The usual comment that I get is, if we (officials) make a decision fast, eyebrows are going to be raised. We are going to be under the scanner of the three Cs - the CBI, CVC and CAG. So the best thing for us to do is to not make a decision because then we are protected."
Saying that his priority was to fast-track projects, the Chief Minister assured the gathering of action and transparency. "I have created two things. One is Chief Minister's transformation office which will track all projects. The second is a war room which will coordinate between agencies and remove bottlenecks."
"Once clearances are there, we should be able to build the coastal roads in two years. I know this seems impossible by our standards but we can achieve it as worldwide, bigger projects are being completed in two years," he added.
While the Chief Minister came in for praise from the industry, the opposition was not impressed.
"The Fadnavis government has nothing new to offer. They are packaging an old gift in new wrapping paper," said NCP Spokesperson Clyde Crasto, adding that the government was reaping the benefits of the hard work done by the previous Congress-NCP regime.
With Chief Minister Fadnavis having set ambitious targets, Mumbai would be hoping for things to change in the next few years.