I will deliver Balasaheb Thackeray's dream-slum-free Mumbai

What have been your achievements while being in office? A/ My achievements have been three-fold—accessibility, infrastructure and welfare.

- DNYANESH JATHAR

First, I made the chief minister’s office and residence more accessible to the public, especially the poor and the needy. I have changed the way the common man perceives the CMO.

I prioritised restarting stalled infrastructure projects, including the expansion of Mumbai’s metro, which is now one of the largest ongoing metro networks globally. Notable completions include the coastal road, the Atal Setu (India’s longest sea bridge) and the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The Samruddhi Mahamarg, Maharashtra’s longest greenfield road, will be fully completed by December 2024, and the bullet train project is progressing well. Additionally, we are advancing Vadhvan Port, poised to be India’s largest deep-water port. Urban renewal projects such as the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, Thane Cluster Development Project, and BDD Chawl redevelopment are also priorities, with a focus on housing for the indigenous population. We are effectively using agencies like the Slum Rehabilitation Authority to redevelop areas like Ramabai Nagar.

In terms of welfare, my government introduced Maharashtra’s first direct benefit transfer scheme, the Ladki Bahin Yojana, alongside health care programmes like Aapla Dawakhana and the Integrated MJPJAY (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana) with Ayushman Bharat. The Shasan Aplya Dari scheme, which brings services directly to citizens, has over five crore beneficiaries. We have also provided financial aid to farmers, supported marginalised communities and waived tolls for light vehicles at five key entry points in Mumbai to ease travel costs.

Q/ There used to be reports of you and Ajit Pawar clashing during cabinet meetings?