MUMBAI: Piyush Goyal said he will enlist the help of experts and advanced technology to find solutions for in-situ rehabilitation of slums, including those that have encroached on mangroves and areas of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), while addressing a press conference at Dahisar on Saturday.
Goyal said, “In ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’, the very first chapter talks about the welfare of the poor, including slum redevelopment and rehabilitation. Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), we provided houses to four crore people, and three crore more will receive houses. Similarly, we will provide in-situ housing for slums.”
When asked about the hurdle of rehabilitating slums that have encroached on mangroves and SGNP, Goyal said, “We will take the help of experts and advanced technology to find solutions.” While he admitted he was not an expert, he assured that advanced technology would be utilised to find solutions, including for rehabilitation of tribals living in SGNP. Goyal also reiterated his confidence after two phases of the election, his party will secure more than 400 seats.
After the conference, he launched his campaign rath at Borivali and is expected to file his nomination paper on Tuesday. Goyal stated he has been interacting with people in the constituency to understand their issues and assured them that after his election, he will escalate their issues to the highest level to find solutions, including redevelopment of old, dilapidated buildings in the constituency. Goyal also mentioned that establishing a large multi-specialty hospital in the constituency is a priority for him, along with extending the Harbour line till Borivali and addressing traffic issues.
Goyal is the BJP candidate from Mumbai North, which is considered the party’s safest seat, where its sitting MP, Gopal Shetty, had won by a record margin in the previous election against Congress’s candidate and actor Urmila Matondkar. Despite being on the BJP star campaigners’ list, Goyal has left the constituency only a few times for party candidates’ campaigns in other states. He is spending most of the time in the Mumbai-North constituency which includes areas of Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivli and Malad.
He spends most of his time getting accustomed to the constituency along with sitting MP Gopal Shetty. On Saturday, he visited SGNP to meet morning walkers.
Although the opposition has still to announce a candidate for the seat, Goyal continues his campaign by meeting people and areas to understand their issues. According to his supporters, he has over 12 engagements daily, meeting with party organisations’ office bearers, locals and visiting societies. In several places, NGOs, societies, associations and professionals organise programmes under their own names, without associating with the party, for Goyal.
