The WB-sponsored project with its emphasis on improvement of public transport like railways and buses, road-widening programmes, construction of pedestrian subways and road over-bridges, is at odds with the state government's much vaunted flyover scheme which unabashedly encourages private transport. While state government officials insist that the two are not contradictory, transport planners point out that a maze of flyovers in the city would only add to the traffic congestion and leave no scope for demand management as envisaged under the World Bank project. Under the MUTP-II, private vehicles were to be discouraged by charging high parking fees and cordonpricing whereby cars were to be fined for entering a central business district after a certain time.

The flyovers, on the other hand, says planners, depend on private vehicles since their cost of construction is to be recovered through a toll. ``Yes, the WB officials asked questions,'' said K Nalinakshan, principal secretary, urban development department, ``but they have also said they will not interfere.''

``It's a matter of perception, whether the two projects are contradictory or complimentary,'' he added. And in order to make it complimentary, some of the non-rail components in the MUTP-II might have to be changed. ``For example, the Area Traffic Control Scheme (where the signalling is to be made synchronous with the traffic at the junction) will have to be restricted to junctions where there are no flyovers,'' said additional CP (traffic) S P S Yadav, while asserting that the flyovers were being constructed keeping in mind the MRTP.

But planners who have been working on the MUTP-II, are not soconfident. Neither are they sure of the World Bank loan being sanctioned. ``The WB does not function as a money lender where all it is concerned about is its money and its interest. It will definitely ask questions about the Urban Transport Management Strategy for the city,'' said a planner.

However, BMC traffic engineers appear enthusiastic about the flyover projects. ``It is better than the long pending and long delayed MUTP-II. At least with the flyovers, traffic will be able to move faster,'' remarked an official reflecting popular opinion.

Yet, at the core of all this is the state government's ability to repay the loan.

With the state's treasuries empty, industries moving out of the city and the MSRDC not sure of recovering the money spent on flyovers, can the city afford a Rs 6,000-crore MUTP-II project in addition to the Rs 1,200-crore flyover project? ``If there were unlimited resources, we would be better placed. But with limited resources, how do we put our case across,'' a planner despaired.