NCP chief and deputy CM Ajit Pawar has for the first time acknowledged that most of the infrastructure projects in the city have been completed owing to the consistent efforts and persuasion of deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. He said as a former leader of the opposition and as deputy CM, Fadnavis showed the patience to secure permissions and NOCs from umpteen agencies at Centre.
A top bureaucrat said the coastal road project was the biggest challenge before the govt since it not only required state permissions but also faced a legal test-it involved permissions from the Union environment ministry and the state govt had to convince the judiciary following public interest litigation.The state also witnessed a change in the political leadership at the helm -from Fadnavis to Uddhav Thackeray to Eknath Shinde. Despite such a situation, Fadnavis personally monitored the project daily and ensured that it hit milestones in a time-bound manner. Now, only a part of the coastal road is left and is expected to be completed before the assembly polls.
Another landmark project is Atal Setu, which has drastically reduced travel time between south Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. It required several permissions from the Centre as well as large funds.
As CM, Fadnavis drafted an ambitious plan to develop overhead and underground Metro lines. Navi Mumbai airport is in its final stages, as is Bandra-Versova Sea Link.