Maharashtra is one of the most urbanized and progressive States in the country and the State Government has been pro-active in its housing policies and establishing institutions to meet these challenges Dream Homes For "Aam Admi" With an underlying goal of providing shelter for all, the alliance Government under the leadership of ShriVilasrao Deshmukh, prepared an ambitious plan to build 10 lakh houses in two years and took steps for its implementation. Stringent planning and foresight of the Government has led to the fulfillment of their goals. While implementing the housing policy, Government of Maharashtra adopted a definite strategy. It was decided to prepare a report on the basis of a survey to ascertain how many houses were needed in a particular area, how much land was available in that area, amount of building material available etc. The survey is now underway and almost near completion. The novel schemes declared by the State Government are very comprehensive and inclusive for low and medium income groups and have been designed for reconstruction of old buildings and chawls. The plan includes people from the economically weaker sections and implementation of these schemes is sure to change the face of the cities in coming years. ? Ten lakh houses to be constructed in next two years. ? More than 4.5 lakh houses constructed under various schemes and construction of one lakh houses in progress. ? Decision to construct five lakh rental houses for those coming to Mumbai in search of jobs. ? Houses to Above Poverty Line (APL) families through Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Nivara Yojana. ? Three room tenaments of 269 sq. ft. instead of 225 sq. ft. under Slum Improvement Scheme. ? Houses with all amenities in Mumbai upto Rs. Four lakh through MHADA. ? Till March end, 50,000 houses for Backward Class poor for which provision of Rs. 600 crore made. The State Government's objective of slum-free cities is truly laudable and is being pursued vigorously. As a step further in this direction, one of the largest Slum Redevelopment Scheme for Dharavi has been planned on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode and is in the process of getting transformed into a modern township through an estimated private investment of Rs. 5,500 crore. Maharashtra No. 1 in Urban Renewal Maharashtra is now the leading State under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). This programme is being implemented in 14 cities in the State viz. Mumbai Metropolitan Region (8 cities), Pune (2 cities), Nagpur, Nashik (2 cities) & Nanded. Mega infrastructure projects and construction of houses with basic services are the components of this scheme. In case of Maharashtra, nearly half the population (45%) is already concentrated in the urban areas. The current rates of transfer of populations from rural to urban settlements suggest that sooner or later, Maharashtra will emerge as predominantly urban State. The Government of Maharashtra has submitted 116 project proposals for 10 cities to the Central Government, out of which 74 are under consideration. The Central Government has till date sanctioned a total approved cost of Rs. 7528 crore for 51 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the State. The 51 approved projects covers the urban areas of Greater Mumbai, Thane, Nanded, Waghala, Nashik, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. There are 11 such projects in Mumbai and Thane, 14 in Nagpur, 10 in Nanded-Waghala, 3 in Nashik and 9 in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad area. The Urban Development Department has designed an information management system with the help of Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) for review and monitoring the approved projects. Monthly targets for the various components of each project have been fixed and these are evaluated on a regular basis. On the basis of this evaluation, the projects and cities are serialized. The State Government implemented the urban improvement plan in accordance to the agreement made with the Central Government. These include the implementation of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, allotment of planning works to local agencies, amendment to Rent Control Act, reducing stamp duty, repealing the Urban Land Ceiling Act, enactment of community participation and the Public Disclosure Act. Urban Governance is therefore posing as one of the foremost challenges of Development Administration in Maharashtra. Mumbai: World-Class City in the Making The Mumbai Makeover is not just a dream; it is a reality that is happening here and now. This new reality is what Mumbaikars have been experiencing over the past four years, each time they zoom across the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, see the Bandra-Worli Sea Link coming up or step into a new comfortable EMU rake while commuting to work. Transforming Mumbai into a world class city and an international financial centre has been high priority on the Maharashtra Government's agenda for the last four years. Over the next 15 years, Mumbai is expected to grow into the world biggest megapolis and keeping the global trends in mind, the Government of Maharashtra has drawn up an ambitious action plan for makeover of Mumbai, aimed at transforming the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) into a global financial hub. Some of the major decisions taken by the State Government for the Mumbai Makeover include the new Housing Policy, Metro Rails, Skywalks, Borivali-Nariman Point Waterway and Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) projects promising faster and better connectivity across the city. Global Mumbai ? With consolidated efforts of all agencies Mumbai Makeover gains momentum. ? Work of 1S roads and 16 flyovers expedited to reduce traffic congestion. ? First Sky-walk of country in Mumbai. Total 50 Sky-walks to be constructed within next year. ? 1 56 new local trains for comfortable suburban railway travel, ? Mono-Rail to be introduced from Malbar Hill to Bandra-Kurla Complex and Thane to Bhiwandi. Mumbai Metro ? 146 km. long Metro . Railway Project for connecting suburbs. ? The first corridor is the 11,5 km stretch from Versova to Ghatkooa' ? The other two corridors are; 38 km Colaba to Charkop and 1 3.4 km Bandra Mahim to Kuria to mankhud. Bandra-Worli Sea Link ? Construction of Bandra-Worli Sea Link nearing completion. ? Motorists will save around half-an-.hour of commuting time each way as the link cuts down the distance between Bandra and-Worli from the present 7.7 km to.only 4.7 km. ? The'.bridge will make commuting, between the western suburbs and the island city, much faster ; and more comfortable. State Attracting Foreign Investments Maharashtra has always been the bastion of industrial progress. To further enhance industrial progress and eradicate unemployment, the Government has established the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to enable establishment of industrial estates with all necessary provisions and infrastructural facilities. Till date, MIDC has established 229 industrial estates on 60,000 acres of land throughout the State. These include Information Technology Parks, Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Wine Parks, Silver Zones, and industries like Gems and Jewellery, Clothing Tanneries, Electronics, Food Processing, Horticulture and Chemicals. In one of the most path-breaking decisions in recent years, the Government of Maharasthra has designed its own Independent Policy in 2001. This policy was designed to boost Foreign Direct Investment in the State. It's main thrust was on improving productivity. Santacruz Electronic Export Promotion Zone (SEEPZ) is the earliest developed industrial estate. Steps were taken to amend excise duty rules, free the foreign currency policy and give tax benefits to encourage industrialization through SEZs. Until now 136 SEZs have been approved in Maharashtra. A total Investment of Rs.1,35,000 crore expected in these SEZs. MIDC is developing 21 additional SEZs. Out of these 6 have been finalised and 12 have been approved in principle. MIDC is trying to maintain a regional balance while developing these projects. Therefore the Corporation has decided to develop 2 projects in Nagpur, 3 in Amaravati, 5 in Aurangabad, 4 in Konkan and 7 in Pune area. Besides these, MIDC is developing some SEZs with the help of other companies. Projects are being developed with collaboration of Mahindra & Mahindra at Karla near Pune, Bharat Forge at Khed in Pune, Videocon atVagholi in Shirur, Supreme Petrochemical in Raigad, India Bulls Infrastructure Development Company at Ranjankhar in Raigad and Musalgaon in Nashik district. The project at Kedarpur in Nashik district will be developed with the help of Tata Reality and Infrastructure. The Government has also focused on developing various infrastructural facilities along with SEZ projects. Government has undertaken construction of Highways on Build, Operate andTransfer(BOT) basis. Similar projects have been undertaken at Jaisinghpur in Kolhapur district for bypass and at Khambataki near Satara for road tunnel. Private sector companies will build such projects, maintain and operate them and ultimately transfer them to the Government. The objective of this effort is to attract more Foreign Direct Investment in Maharashtra. PUNE: 'Detroit of India' Maharashtra's forward looking IT polio/ has been well received in the IT sector. 25 per cent of the top 500 software companies in India are based in Maharashtra. 10 of the top 20 Software and Services Exporters in India have operations in the State. Maharashtra has 33 Public IT Parks and 212 Private Parks, which provide employment to 30 per cent of the country's IT professionals. Maharashtra accounts for 32 per cent of internet subscribers, 35 per cent of National PC market and peripherals. The State further contributes over 20 per cent of the total software exports from India. In addition to its IT Park in Pune, Satyam Computers, a major IT service provider is setting up an IT Park in Nagpur's proposed Special Economic Zone. Vision Ahead... ? Develop Maharashtra as Asia's most competitive manufacturing and service hub. ? Achieve at least 10% and 12% growth in manufacturing and services sectors respectively. ? Retain Maharashtra's position as India's Best Investment Destination. Peace To Progress Policing will be of no avail unless citizens observe discipline voluntarily. This is the basic idea behind the concept of the "Mahatma Gandhi Dispute Free Village Campaign". The State Government initiated this scheme on August 15, 2007. The idea was that if the common people dissolve their petty issues on their own and do not seek Police intervention, the overworked Police force will be able devote its services to solve bigger issues. The people of Maharashtra have responded with considerable enthusiasm to this idea. This not only encouraged the people to resolve their disputes within the community or village level, but also evoked an air of freshness and confidence amongst the villagers across the State. This scheme has been declared a success with over 2000 villages across the State being declared "Dispute Free" villages under this campaign. It is expected that at least 5000 more villages will be soon added to this list. Maharashtra is the first State which implemented such an innovative scheme. Maharashtra Villages: A Model of Cleanliness The Nirmal Gram Puraskar Yojana initiated by the Central Government was adopted with full strength by various districts of Maharashtra and the State is today a leader in this regard. The criteria included 100 per cent sanitation coverage with individual or community latrines, 100 per cent school and anganwadi sanitation coverage, a living environment free from open defecation and clean environment maintenance. Maharashtra is today the #1 State in rural sanitation and 2367 Gram Panchayats have won the "Nirmal Gram Award" in the last 3 years. The villages were assessed by an independent agency after which they were declared eligible for the awards. The award scheme not only inculcated a competitive spirit among the villagers but even helped many villages overcome internal differences and work in unison to achieve the goal