DP 2034 likely to be delayed by two more months again

Mumbai: Mumbai’s Development Plan (DP) 2034 may be delayed by two more months as corporators have sought more time to study it. This is the fourth such extension sought by BMC from the state government for approval of the plan.

On Monday, Shiv Sena – the ruling party in the civic body – demanded in the civic house that DP 2034 be given an extension of two months.

Originally, the plan needed to be submitted to the state government by May 19. The DP is the land use map of the city in terms of infrastructure including roads, gardens, schools, hospitals and so on.

In March this year, the newly-elected corporators in the BMC had demanded time to study the DP properly and accordingly, the state government had granted them an extension till May 19.

Defending the demand for an extension, yet again, house leader Yashwant Jadhav of Sena said that they needed further time to study the DP and it should not be pushed through in a hurry.

Mr Jadhav in the house said, “It is hardly a few months since corporators have been elected and they have not got enough time to study the DP, which is very important for the city’s development over the next 20 years. New corporators will have fresh suggestions to offer. Hence a two-month extension is needed.”

The BJP demanded that experts be hired to explain the technical aspects of the DP to corporators. Party group leader Manoj Kotak said, “If experts are needed to explain the plan, they should be appointed so that there is not much delay in approving the DP.”

Interestingly, more than 32 per cent corporators had bunked the recent seminar on DP 2034. According to civic data, out of 232 corporators (227 elected and five nominated), only 159 had turned up for the event.