Maharashtra is following a dangerous trend
Lucknow,December 03(HS)Maharashtra offers a study in contrast. Uttar Pradesh had seen a change of guard two years ago.The coastal state has witnessed a change now.While the government in BEMARU state allowed major schemes launched by the previous regime to continue,the new ruling party in the most industralised state has stayed a metro rail scheme in Aarey colony and ordered review of bullet train project,two mega schemes launched by the BJP.
Not only will it increase the cost of projects but create a doubt in minds of foreign investors who do not favour frequent changes in policy.The UP government had also faced this situation.Some of the pet schemes of the SP government were not beneficial either to the state or people in general.They just suited the party and its followers.Cycle (party symbol) tracks created in the middle of main roads in state capital is one of the examples.They caused inconvenience to many and remained largely unused.But the Yogi government did not demolish them,saving additional cost.
Some other projects of the SP were also allowed to be completed by the BJP government because money already spent on them would have otherwise gone waste.This gave a talking point to SP president Akhilesh Yadav .He often said that the new government was not doing “anything new and taking credits for projects launched by us”.It fell on deaf ears.
New Maharashtra chief minister Uddav Thackarey,on the other hand,stalled the rail project in Mumbai launched by his predecessor withing hours of assuming power.It was aimed at providing a rail link for the benefit of common people.Trees coming in the way were already uprooted and the work was on to complete the project on time to save cost escalation. A good amount of money was spent before Thackarey took over.
The felled trees cannot be relocated now.They have to be planted again.It means by staying, the Uddav government has neither helped the trees nor saved money the state needs most (it has already demanded more money from the Centre to complete some other schemes).
It has not yet stalled the bullet train project but it may.That will cause more strain.The project has progressed well and is likely to be completed on time.Land has been acquired for much of the 500-odd-km-track.The decision was taken after weighing the pros and cons and after a suitable financial partner was found.Japan is providing a long-term loan for 80 per cent of the project cost at a lower interest rate.
It may worry the foreign investors because these developments in Maharashtra have taken place after change of decisions in Andha Pradesh taken by the previous government. New chier minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has halted work on some major projects launched by his predecessor.A power project vital for industry and agriculture is one of them.This kind of trend is dangerous for the country.
