M.S.R.D.C Shirdi Dvpmt Plans in Cold Storage

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POOR INFRASTRUCTUREM.S.R.D.C Shirdi Development Plans in Cold StorageAshley D’Mello TNN05th Sept`09Mumbai: A Rs 450-crore infrastructure development plan for Shirdi

prepared by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has been lying in cold storage for over three years as the state government and the Shirdi Mandir Devasthan have not been able to agree to any implementation plan. Senior MSRDC officials said pilgrims will to continue face hardships in the town and the cost of the plan may go up to twice its current amount if the project is further delayed. The township, associated with Sai Baba, has 60,000 inhabitants and draws over 80,000 pilgrims daily and 3-4 lakh pilgrims on weekends. The pilgrims come in cars, buses, trucks and trailers, jamming roads during weekends. MSRDC officials state that the town gets crammed with 6 lakh pilgrims—most of them coming in hired vans and buses—on special festival days. The MSRDC drew up its plan, which included a 10-km, four-lane ring road around the township along with widening of roads in the town, to ensure proper road infrastructure. The ring road will divert 75% of the traffic. There will also be a long skywalk serving the temple complex which will have three outlets leading to the temple with lifts. Car parks housed in commercial complexes are also on the cards. The plan also envisages nine spots to be developed as green space. The idea is to have most of the plan developed on a build-operate-transfer model so that there is not much expense for the township and the temple. MSRDC officials are keen that the

government, the township authorities and temple officials chalk out a solution and implement the project immediately. “The organisation which gets the contract for the project will operate it for 30 years and then hand it back to the township,’’ an MSRDC official said.Source - http://timesofindia.comcOld stOre-age : rOhit beHaL

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