In a significant move towards addressing the housing concerns of journalists, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the ‘Media Tower’ private housing project, a venture spearheaded by the Maharashtra State Marathi Journalists Association. The foundation stone for this ambitious project was laid during a ceremony held at Hotel JW Marriott.
During the event, Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis expressed his commitment to exploring discounted interest rates on home loans for journalists, with plans to discuss the proposal with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The initiative is geared towards making affordable housing a reality for media professionals who often grapple with the challenge of high living costs.
The ceremony witnessed the presence of key dignitaries, including PMMRDA Commissioner Rahul Mahiwal, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Shekhar Singh, and esteemed editors such as Dr. Yogesh Jadhav, Sanjay Awte, and Samrat Phadnis.
Fadnavis emphasized the need to extend similar housing projects to other cities in Maharashtra, recognizing the evolving landscape of the media industry. With an increasing number of individuals from ordinary households joining journalism, addressing their housing needs becomes a pressing concern.
Acknowledging the challenges faced by journalists, Fadnavis highlighted the recent enactment of the Maharashtra Media Persons and Media Institutions (Prevention of Violence and damage or Loss to Property) Act. He also mentioned the extension of the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana to all journalists, with ongoing efforts to broaden its scope to include journalists’ families.
While journalists have previously benefitted from MHADA’s lottery for housing in Mumbai, Fadnavis stressed the need for additional measures to accommodate the growing number of journalists. He suggested potential price reductions by municipal bodies and assured support from the revenue headquarters to acquire space for projects like the Media Tower.
Looking ahead, Fadnavis shared his vision for Pune and PMRDA to become pivotal growth engines for the country in the next two decades. He highlighted the city’s potential as a hub for new-age industries, citing priority projects such as the Ring Road and the imperative need for a new airport to propel rapid development.
