Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who arrived at the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur Friday amid the ongoing session of the state legislature, has defended Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s suggestion to set up a PM-led committee for development of Mumbai.

“Mumbai has always been the highest tax-paying city in the country. The development of Mumbai is important. Why should anybody object?” he said.

“A committee led by PM would certainly go a long way in development of Mumbai and Maharashtra,” he said.

Gadkari, however, refrained from making any adverse comment against NCP president Sharad Pawar, who had dashed a seven-page letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arguing that a PM-led committee would be detrimental to the autonomy to civic body which governs Mumbai.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For all the latest Mumbai News, download Indian Express App.