Mumbai, Jan 17 (IANS) The Maharashtra Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday approved the “Mumbai Police Housing Township Project”, aimed at providing around 40,000 to 45,000 government quarters for police officers and personnel in Mumbai city and suburbs.

The project will be executed by the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC) under the Public Works Department.

The township project involves development of nearly 50 million square feet of area, with an estimated cost of around Rs 20,000 crore.

The government will provide 30 per cent of the funds required for the township, while the remaining 70 per cent will be raised by the MSIDC as loans from various financial institutions through government guarantees.

Approval was also granted for an initial fund of Rs 100 crore to the corporation for preparing the technical and economic feasibility report and for commencing the project.

“Given Mumbai’s growing population and security requirements, there is a significant need for well-equipped and modern colonies and residences for police officers and personnel. This will enable the police force to perform their duties with greater promptness and efficiency,” said an official from the Home Department.

The Mumbai Police force has a total manpower of 51,308. Currently, the available service quarters are located in old and dilapidated buildings dating back to the British era. Out of the 22,904 available service residences, around 3,777 are unfit for use.

Further, more than 400 to 500 officers and personnel apply for housing every month. Due to the lack of available accommodation, members of the Mumbai Police force are forced to commute daily to their workplaces.

Further, the Cabinet cleared the direct system of transferring funds for 1,000 e-bus facilities of Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal under the PM-E-Drive scheme.

Under the Payment Security Mechanism, the concerned companies will receive the expenditure amount through Direct Debit Mandate (DDM) from the accounts of Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

The Cabinet also gave approval for the construction of a multipurpose multi-modal hub and terminal market for farmers at Bapgaon (Tal. Bhiwandi) in Thane district for vegetable export.

For this, 7 hectares 96.80 R land will be made available to the State Agricultural Marketing Corporation.

Construction of facilities for vapour heat treatment, plant irradiation and pack house facilities, as well as storage of fruits and vegetables, will be carried out.

–IANS

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