Delegates scramble to take selfies with Shah Rukh Khan and Devendra Fadanvis at an event in the city on Saturday.   | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said development projects in the city and State would remain on paper unless their implementation is taken seriously.

Mr. Fadnavis was speaking at Mumbai 2.0, a conclave to discuss infrastructure, development and finance projects. Mr. Fadnavis said even projects conceived over 20 years ago had not yet been implemented.

He said, “In Metro 3, we faced issues as two cases in the Bombay High Court stalled work, leading to a loss of ₹300 crore of taxpayers’ money. Now all major infrastructure projects are being approved, including the coastal road project.”

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke about increasing traffic on both rails and roads, and promoting waterways as a viable medium of transport. He said, “Around 80 cruises come to Mumbai in a year, but with the international cruise terminal, the numbers will go up to 950 and bring in 20 to 25 lakh tourists.” He urged the State to clean the Mithi river and vowed to clear all proposals for floating jetties in the city.

Union Minister Suresh Prabhu said major cities have to contribute significantly towards the Gross Domestic Product and that Mumbai needs climate-proof action plans. Municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said the civic body was among the richest in Asia but it has been unable to solve major problems like the crisis in housing, employment, and garbage collection. Mr. Mehta said, “Processing waste and recycling it is something we have started focusing on now.”

Actor Shah Rukh Khan, in an interaction with Mr. Fadnavis at the conclave, said, “Apart from acting, the other profession I see myself taking up is education.”