Need special package for DP: Rahul Shewale

Mumbai: Shiv Sena’s Rahul Shewale, who is contesting from the Mumbai south-central Lok Sabha constituency, said that the city needs a special package from the Central government for implementation of the Development Plan (DP) 2014-34.

Mr Shewale, who is also the sitting MP, said, “The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made a provision of Rs 3,300 crore only for DP implementation in its budget this year. The DP should be implemented on time and for that, I have already proposed a special package of Rs 14,600 crore from the Centre’s financial budget”.

“The country gets 60 per cent revenue from taxes, and Mumbai contributes the maximum. If Mumbai is developed rapidly, the entire country will benefit. The last DP of Mumbai was implemented only 7 per cent. Thus, the special package of Rs 14,600 crore from the Centre will be useful. The BMC, state and central government should work together to develop Mumbai,” said Mr Shewale, who was also three-time standing committee chairman of the BMC before becoming a MP.

However, the Congress’ Eknath Gaikwad who has been pitted against Mr Shewale in Mumbai south-central, said, “The Manmohan Singh government had sanctioned special packages for Mumbai like Rs 400 crore for the tunnel; Rs 1,600 crore for Middle Vaitarna; Rs 36 crore for Dharavi development; Rs 100 crore for J.J. Hospital development; and many more. These funds were all granted for city’s development and all projects have worked. Let the Sena tell me any special funds they got exclusively for Mumbai in the last five years.”

Mr Shewale however said that since the revised DP 2014-34 was sanctioned only last year, he could propose special funds only for the past two years.