CNBC-TV 18 and Infosys spotlight Mumbai''s infrastructure

Mumbai: Business Channel CNBC-TV18 and IT powerhouse Infosys Technologies together organised the second in the series of discussions on 'Infrastructure and the City' in Mumbai on Thursday 9 December 2004. This is a series of debates bringing together eminent citizens, representatives of concerned corporate houses and government representatives, to develop an informal action plan for improving the infrastructure in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi.

CNBC Asia Pacific holds a strategic equity stake in the Indian registered broadcaster Television 18. It is currently available in over 18 million households in India, while Infosys is one of India's largest software developers.

The debate brought out issues related to governance frameworks, civic administration, roads and public transport, housing and social infrastructure, ports, water supply, IT and telecom infrastructure, planning and preservation of public spaces, amenities and the coastal ecosystem. The aim is to generate implementable recommendations for the state and central governments and pressure them into swift action.

Participating in the discussions were eminent personalities like Maharashtra Secretary (Special Projects) Sanjay Ubale, joint commissioner of MMRDA Dr T Chandrashekhar, Magsaysay award winner Arputim Jokin of the National Slum Dwellers Federation, urban infrastructure expert Charles Correa, former MD of IDFC Nasser Munjee, Hindustan Construction Company CMD Ajit Gulabchand, Konkan Railway CMD B Rajaram, Mohandas Pai of Infosys and Tata Teleservices chairman Firdose Vandrevala.

The first 'Infrastructure and the City' discussion was held in New Delhi, on 2 December 2004, with Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit presiding. This forum will travel to all major metropolitan cities. A CNBC-TV18 channel spokesperson said: "We believe that corporate India needs to exert pressure on governments to give greater attention to our cities."