In an interview, Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Infrastructure Improvement Company (MSIDC), tells Siddhant Konduskar that whereas Maharashtra has well-developed highways and expressways, many district and taluka-level roads stay underdeveloped and to bridge that hole, the Company has undertaken a 6,000-km street mission value Rs 37,000 crore. He additionally outlined MSIDC’s technique to bridge important gaps, implement large-scale tasks, and create long-term financial affect. Edited excerpts of the interview:
Q: MSIDC was established in 2023 as a devoted entity for infrastructure improvement in Maharashtra. What are the targets of the brand new physique?
Brijesh Dixit: The first goal of MSIDC is to lift and increase authorities assets for infrastructure tasks. The Company ensures the mobilisation of funds, together with exploring BOT (Construct-Function-Switch) tasks the place personal traders contribute to infrastructure improvement. One other key focus is monetising authorities belongings, equivalent to creating barren lands, to generate extra assets, the place MSIDC performs a vital position in implementing infrastructure tasks inside and outdoors Maharashtra.
Our mandate contains enterprise infrastructure tasks throughout all 22 classes recognized by the central authorities beneath the Nationwide Infrastructure Pipeline. This covers a variety of sectors, together with transportation infrastructure equivalent to roads, railways, metro, airports, and ports, in addition to water provide, energy provide, and industrial infrastructure.
Q: With a good portion of Maharashtra’s street community beneath the Public Works Division (PWD), how does MSIDC’s position differ, and the way do each companies coordinate their efforts?
Dixit: One of many main tasks MSIDC has undertaken relies on the Hybrid Annuity Mannequin (HAM). Historically, BOT tasks relied solely on personal investments, which frequently resulted in delays because of an absence of participation. To deal with this, the HAM mannequin was launched, the place the federal government initially contributed 40 per cent whereas personal entities introduced in 60 per cent. Nevertheless, in Maharashtra, a brand new method was taken, with the federal government contributing 60 per cent and personal gamers the remaining 40 per cent.
Below this mannequin, MSIDC performs the position of a financier, lowering the federal government’s monetary burden. As a substitute of personal entities contributing 40 per cent, MSIDC now contributes 70 per cent, securing funds from monetary establishments at aggressive charges. This has considerably improved monetary administration and mission execution, guaranteeing higher monitoring and well timed implementation. The mannequin has helped expedite infrastructure tasks whereas sustaining fiscal prudence.
Story continues under this advert
Q: What are the fast and long-term infrastructure tasks MSIDC has undertaken? May you share any main freeway or city street improvement plans?
Dixit: Below the brand new HAM mannequin, MSIDC has launched a state-wide mission to enhance connectivity. Whereas Maharashtra has well-developed highways and expressways, many district and taluka-level roads stay underdeveloped. To bridge this hole, MSIDC has undertaken a 6,000-km street mission value Rs 37,000 crore, guaranteeing that these roads are constructed utilizing high-quality cement concrete. The mission follows a debt-equity mannequin with a 17.5-year timeline, together with upkeep beneath MSIDC’s purview.
Aside from this, a number of tasks are in progress. MSIDC is creating the Divisional Commissioner and District Collector Workplace in Nagpur, an auditorium at an agricultural faculty, and veterinary faculties in Shirdi and Akola.
By way of the Ministry of Street Transport and Highways (MoRTH), the Company can be concerned in upgrading Kalamboli Circle in Navi Mumbai, establishing the 250-km Pune-Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Expressway – together with a 55-km elevated stretch, the longest in India – and constructing key highways like Hadapsar (Pune) to Yavat (Solapur) and Talegaon to Chakan to Shikrapur in Pune. These tasks goal to boost Maharashtra’s transportation community and industrial connectivity.
Story continues under this advert
Q: Given the growing emphasis on sustainability, is MSIDC incorporating eco-friendly supplies or inexperienced infrastructure practices in its tasks?
Dixit: Sustainability is a key focus in all MSIDC tasks, with eco-friendly supplies and inexperienced infrastructure practices being prioritised. In constructing building, MSIDC follows inexperienced constructing requirements by incorporating pure air flow, optimised lighting, and 100 per cent water recycling techniques. Photo voltaic vitality options and eco-friendly building supplies are additionally getting used to boost sustainability.
For street tasks, sustainable supplies like fly ash in cement concrete are being utilised. Street designs are optimised to cut back gas wastage by guaranteeing correct curvature and gradient, enhancing vitality effectivity. These initiatives goal to create sturdy, energy-efficient infrastructure whereas minimising environmental affect. So, by adopting eco-friendly supplies and strategies in our work, we attempt to attain sustainability.
Q: Transparency and accountability are essential in infrastructure improvement. What measures are in place to make sure transparency by MSIDC? Moreover, trying forward, what’s your imaginative and prescient for MSIDC within the coming years?
Story continues under this advert
Dixit: We’ve got ensured to be 100 per cent clear with all of the government-led mandates in place. All the essential info concerning any mission we undertake is well obtainable on our web site. Moreover, to stay clear, we’ve got conformed to practices like e-tenders, Proper to Data (RTI), and Comptroller and Audit Basic of India (CAG) audit. Furthermore, we’re all the time able to share all the knowledge and reply any questions or handle any points raised by any stakeholder.
Our existence has solely been for the final 16 months and we’ve got undertaken roads, highways, expressways, and constructing advanced tasks. Slowly and regularly, we are going to take up all different infrastructure tasks out of the 22 talked about earlier. We might go forward for ports, airports, rail, and metro. Since we’re in all classes of infra tasks, so, no matter comes our means as per mandate given by the central or state authorities, we’re blissful to take it up.
