Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for Mumbai, promising pothole-free roads, an expansive metro network, and enhanced civic amenities as part of the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP MahaYuti alliance’s agenda for the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections. In a candid video interview with PTI, Shinde took a swipe at the Shiv Sena-UBT, accusing them of exploiting Mumbai as a “golden goose” while neglecting its infrastructure, leaving residents to navigate pothole-riddled roads and endure traffic chaos.
Shinde, alongside Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, is spearheading an image makeover for India’s financial capital. “Mumbai will have pothole-free roads and improved sanitation within the next 18 months,” Shinde declared, emphasizing that road concretization projects are already underway. The MahaYuti alliance, which secured victories in the recent Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections, is banking on its infrastructure push to win the BMC polls, expected later this year. “We will contest as a united front and emerge victorious,” Shinde asserted confidently.
The BMC, with its massive ₹75,000 crore annual budget—larger than that of some small states—has been under Shiv Sena’s control since 1992. However, Shinde’s split from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena in 2022, which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, has set the stage for a fierce electoral battle to claim supremacy in Mumbai. Shinde, recognized by the Election Commission as the leader of the ‘real Shiv Sena,’ highlighted his tenure’s achievements, stating, “The decisions we’ve taken for Mumbai and Maharashtra over the last two-and-a-half years will speak for themselves. People reward those who deliver, not those who sit idle.”
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Among the flagship initiatives, Shinde pointed to the rapid expansion of Mumbai’s metro network, which is set to reach 350–400 km, ensuring seamless last-mile connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). “The MVA stalled critical projects like the metro and car-shed work, causing hardships. We’ve restarted them all,” he said, accusing the Thackeray-led government of delaying progress. Additionally, seven new sewage treatment plants have been launched to prevent polluted water from flowing into the sea, addressing a decades-old environmental concern.
Shinde also highlighted social welfare measures, such as the “Balasaheb Thackeray Aapla Dawakhana” initiative, which provides free medical checkups and medicines to slum residents. Long-delayed slum rehabilitation projects have been revived, aiming to bring back families displaced to distant suburbs like Vasai-Virar, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Badlapur. “We’re committed to making Mumbai livable for all,” Shinde said.
As Mumbai gears up for the BMC elections, Shinde’s promises of infrastructure overhaul and better quality of life are poised to dominate the campaign narrative. With the MahaYuti alliance projecting confidence and a track record of action, the battle for Mumbai’s civic helm promises to be a high-stakes showdown.
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