Seeking Shanghai, trapped in shantytown

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">CM''s vision for Mumbai a la Shanghai has been curbed by Sonia Gandhi, while the Opposition touts Singapore model. Has the city''s rocky road to development missed the bus?</span><br /><br /></div> <div align="right" style="position:relative; left: -3"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="right" border="0" width="43.2%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" e0e0e0=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Forget Shanghai, look at Singapore</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Opposition leader Narayan Rane says city development should follow the Shiv Sena-BJP''s Singapore model. Here''s what he has to say</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">Forget Shanghai:</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="">Has anyone in the government visited the Chinese capital? In 1999, after a detailed study, we had prepared a masterplan based on the Singapore model in which the Centre, state government, MMRDA and BMC would contribute to upgrade the city via budget provisions. Metro rail, roads, footpaths, underground car parks were planned. Such planning is needed for Mumbai. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">How, where</span><span style="" font-size:="">: CM Vilasrao Deshmukh announced a Rs 31,500 crore plan for Mumbai. How was this figure arrived? On which projects it would be spent? There is no planning. </span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">Demolition drama</span><span style="" font-size:="">: Ministers encouraging slums should be suspended. We need strong legislation to curb migrant influx in Mumbai.</span><br /><br /><span style="" font-size:="" font-weight:="" bold="">Prioritise</span><span style="" font-size:="">: The water transport project linking Nariman Point to Gorai via hovercrafts, which was initiated by us, should be completed on a priority basis.</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">Has Mumbai''s flight to Shanghai been grounded unceremoniously? With Sonia Gandhi clipping the wings of CM Vilasrao Deshmukh''s vision for the city, the big question is -- where does Mumbai go from here?<br /><br />Political circles are abuzz with how the same partymen who hosted lavish parties to celebrate the CM''s 100 days in office, chose to go against his plan for city development. Analysts feel that the trigger to clamp down on Deshmukh''s policies is linked to the recent statement by NCP leader Sharad Pawar calling a halt on demolitions on humanitarian grounds. "If there are no special provisions for Mumbai in the upcoming Union Budget, then we are back to square one,"says Narinder Nayar, chairman of NGO Bombay First.<br /><br />Delhi''s ignoring Mumbai''s calls is also seen as disturbing by many. Mumbai, which contributes around Rs 44,000 crores to the Centre annually through tax, gets back virtually nothing. Even the state''s call to the Centre to give around Rs 10,000 crore in the next five years has fallen on deaf ears.<br /><br />"Stopping demolitions on humane grounds is fine, but to halt them for political reasons is wrong," admits Congress MP Milind Deora. Others like Sharada Dwivedi, member of Citizen''s Action Group feel that there should be public meetings on issues like demolitions. "A think tank, which can be the voice of the common man, needs to be brought in. The ordinary citizen must have his say. "<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic=""><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script></span></div> </div>