Mumbai likely to get single planning authority this year: Cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray – Times of India

MUMBAI: Cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday said that Mumbai is likely to get a single planning authority this year and works on the same are underway. However, implementation works of various projects will continue to remain with the multiple agencies like MMRDA, he added.
Thackeray was speaking at Climate Crisis 2.0 organised by Mumbai First along with the state government, BMC, The European Union & Consulate General of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
“Climate action is not only for 2040, or 2070, but for today. A way ahead is to create a single planning authority. In Mumbai, where we have multiple planning agencies and various utilities, we are actively working towards having a single planning agency, with the mayor heading it. It is important that such a body is headed by an elected representative. We are hoping that this will happen this year, as deliberations are underway.”
Further explaining why there is a need for getting a single planning agency, Thackeray said that to repair one footpath there are 42 utilities, and coordination is required with each one, while another set of agencies have to be on board for planning and permissions. This needs to be managed more efficiently,” said Thackeray.
He latter also took to his twitter handle where he said, “Honoured to deliver my inaugural address at the Climate Crisis 2.0 conference in Mumbai, where we discussed–Maharashtra’s goals as India’s leader in ‘Race to Zero’, Collective responsibility as Government, ULBs, and Industry leadership toward climate resilience; need for the creation of a National Council of Climate Action to mitigate climate change on a subnational level and streamlining green financing and green energies in line with long-term sustainable development.”