Given the projected demand for cars once Tata Nano hits the roads, the state urban development is taking stock of the parking lots in the KMA areas in order to designate parking lots, so that the increased traffic can be managed better.

"With small cars hitting the roads, our traffic management mechanism is under tremendous pressure. Parking at public places will thus be a problem. Add to it the new flyovers and roads coming up in the KMA. We will have to identify new areas where parking lots could be set up," the minister said.

Bhattacharya also hinted at introducing water tax in municipalities under the KMA. Aware of the discrepancies in water charges in areas where municipalities have already imposed fees, the minister said that his department was working on a uniform rate and at the same time, put an end to ad hoc charges by introducing water metres in the KMA. "We are working out to introduce 24-hour water supply in all the areas under KMA and stressing on collecting water charges.

We are planning to formulate a uniform water charge rate for all municipalities under KMA and trying to introduce 100% water metering system to determine the charges," Bhattacharya said.

Bhattacharya added that the authorities are working on a plan to protect the waterbodies under KMA. "The waterbodies have to be saved. For this, a detail documentation would be made. A map would be chalked up to get a clear picture on the existing waterbodies and plan would be made to save them," he said.

The minister said that in the last fiscal, the authorities spent Rs 369 crore for executing various projects. "This fiscal year, we have set a target to spend Rs 1,352 crore that will include the centre's JNNURM funds for various infrastructure projects like water supply, slum development, roads, housing and drainage system upgrading," he explained.