Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has decided to develop a new city close to its capital.
It will be called ‘Third Mumbai’.
The aim is to provide better housing, infrastructure and robust transport facilities to the growing population of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The proposed new city will be built around the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and will be linked to Mumbai by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, also known as Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL).
A body called New Town Development Authority (NTDA), under Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), has been formed to give shape to the new city.
Ulwe, Pen, Panvel, Uran, Karjat and surrounding regions, encompassing an area of 323 sq km, will be part of NTDA.
Around 200 villages, including 80-90 under the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA), are likely to be part of NTDA.
“We are calling it the Third Mumbai which will have all the necessary infrastructure that a well-developed city should have. From residential (luxury and affordable), commercial complexes, data centres, hubs for MNCs and banks, and financial companies to large knowledge parks; it will have everything. A robust public transportation shall also be developed there,” Hindustan Times quoted a government official as saying.
Mumbai covers around 600 sq km of area, while Navi Mumbai around 344 sq km.
To boost public transportation, a new Panvel-Karjat suburban rail corridor is being planned by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) at a cost of Rs 812 crore. It will connect Navi Mumbai with Raigad district of MMR.
“The work on this double rail line is underway with physical completion of 43% and the estimated time for completion is December 2025,” an MRVC official said.
The project includes three tunnels and two railway flyovers, covering five stations including Panvel and Karjat.
MRVC has started work to build stations at Panvel, Chikhale, Mohape, Chowk and Karjat.
