‘If I don’t perform as the civic chief, then I’ll take a transfer’

Q: What will be the one agenda that needs to be taken on top priority by the civic chief?
There is a lot to be achieved in terms of upgrading city infrastructure, roads, education, et al. However, improving the basic quality of civic governance and the delivery mechanism will be my top priority. The civic bureaucracy, right from the civic chief to the last man on the rolls, needs to be sensitized to issues concerning the tax-payers.If I do not perform as commissioner, then I will take a transfer and the same applies for the others as well. It is time to change and the administrative machinery has to be sensitive to peoples’ problems and strive to give quality governance.
Q: Has the rapid pace of urbanization turned the green city into a warehouse of people and concrete towers everywhere?
It is because of the close proximity to Mumbai that you see a huge influx of migrant population. It is all taking a huge toll on the city infrastructure. However, Thane is distinctly different from other cities considering that it is nestled in a salubrious environment. My motto for Thane will be ‘Green City and Clean City.’
Q: Have you been adequately briefed about the critical financial status of TMC? Do you have any plan to pull it out of the red?
Frankly, I am shocked to hear that the situation is so bad that the TMC can ill-afford to pay the salaries of its staff. It is unbelieveable that the recovery of revenue is just 44 per cent of the estimates drawn by the then municipal commissioner in his budget. It simply cannot work this way. The revenue targets set at the start of the year has to be achieved, no matter what. I will not tolerate any lapse in duty when it comes to tax recovery. Simultaneously, I see huge scope to improve revenue in the area of advertisement which is at a low of Rs 8 crore. We would definitely improve on that but will be careful not to turn the city into a billboard city.
Q: What about the illegal construction industry that has blossomed in Thane?
A: Yes indeed. It is going to be a big challenge before the administration. There will be zero-tolerance to new structures, which dare come up with permissions. For old illegal structures, we would consider drawing up a master plan for the entire city and classify these illegal structures. Those which cannot be regularized will have to go and some which could be permissible could be given the benefit of protection.
Q: The city roads seem inadequate given the free flow of traffic moving north to Gujarat and Delhi. Is there a viable plan to divert this traffic by building a new by-pass road ?
The city roads are more like national highways. We are examining if an alternative route can be created which will avoid the heavy traffic from driving into the city or the Ghodbunder Road. The chief minister has called a meeting on Thursday to discuss this issue.
Q: The hawkers are proving to be a big menace to the citizens here.
This one issue is like a double-edged sword. One section feels that they have a right to livelihood and are doing so peacefully, while the other opinion is different. We will work out a methodology by which the public places are free of encroachment and at the same time the hawker is not denied his livelihood.