The Transformative Mumbai Metropolitan Region
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region, today is one of the largest urban conglomerations in India, with a population of over 25 Million residents (2016 Census) presently. The region is expected to have a population rise to over 40 million people with 20 million of them being in the workforce. With saturation of developable land in Mumbai, the city has expanded laterally along its Eastern and Northern peripheries forming the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s expanse is over 6355 Sq.km encompassing of 9 Municipal Corporations viz. Greater Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan-Dombivali, Navi Mumbai, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi- Nizamapur, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar and Panvel; and 9 Municipal Councils viz. Ambarnath, Kulgaon-Badalapur, Matheran, Karjat, Khopoli, Pen, Uran, Alibaug and Palghar, along with more than 1,000 villages in Thane, Raigad and Palghar Districts. In order to guide MMR’s growth, strategic development vision and plans with a long-term physical development framework for the Region are developed in the form of Development plan of 2016–2036 is instituted.
A long-term concept plan to develop the Economy of the MMR Region to compete with international business centres across the world has been stipulated by the Metropolitan Planning Committee with technical guidance from the MMRDA. While, Mumbai being the financial capital of the country, the MMR region has increasingly contributed up to about 40% of Maharashtra’s GDP presently. As of 1998, the MMR contributed to only 8–10% of Maharashtra’s GDP.
As per recent interviews of the MMRDA commissioner, the transformation of Maharashtra to a trillion dollar economy would require significant development of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. For Maharashtra to become a $1 trillion economy, Mumbai would need to double or triple the size of its economy, on the back of its preeminent role in service industries, especially finance. That means competing with the likes of Singapore and Shanghai to attract global banks and other world-class financial institutions to Mumbai.
Therefore MMRDA is focused on the developing infrastructure projects like the Mumbai Metro lines in addition to large infrastructure projects like the development of Multi-Modal Corridors, Mumbai Vadodara Highway, Mumbai Nagpur Super Expressway to name a few, in conjunction with MSRDC and the State of Maharashtra. Historically, infrastructure growth in terms of connectivity, roadways and otherwise has spurred economic growth, and MMRDA is banking on this idea itself. However, its efforts are to be more sustainable, planned and allow for the development of smart and self-sustained cities.
The inorganically developed outlying areas of the Region offer opportunities to accommodate the future population surge in a planned manner, while diffusing the high densities from Mumbai City and allowing for its systematic development of satellite towns near Mumbai. These cities are also planned to be self-sufficient and balanced environments, with expansive infrastructural projects to ally connectivity in and out of Mumbai. With the ever growing costs of real estate, labour and PPP of Mumbai, it has been vital to explore strategic and planned development of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region through ULB’s (Urban Local Bodies) and promote/ foster economic development of the region.
Presently 20% of the total area of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is Urbanized Area, and it is expected to increase up to 40% until 2036. The region’s protective areas, that amount to about 31% will be conserved and an expected average density of 25,000 p/km2 is stipulated to ensure balanced crowding in conjunction with present and future infrastructure growth. The Proposed Regional Concepts for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is aspirational about achieving ‘Glocal Culture’ in the region, i.e. Global Standards in conjunction with local culture. It is also prospective of achieving significant milestones in the following:
(A) Economy and Employment: A world Class international Airport, Mandhwa Jetty, JNPT Port and connectivity through Metro Lines and High Speed Rails will provide for a robust environment for the development of commercial and economic activities in the MMR Region. Additionally South Mumbai and BKC being epicentres of Business be further transformed to Internationally competitive Business Districts. Additionally the Mumbai Pune belt also has potential for development of significant, educational, healthcare and research centre belt.
(B) Housing and Quality of Life : Comprehensive Built of the Inner City of Mumbai and City Fringe Areas. Formulation of policies like ITP (Integrated Township Projects) and push to developers for Single-window clearances for township projects promotes the development of Quality Housing for netizens of the region. It also promotes stimulus for economic activity with the development of high-school and universities, in addition to Multi-speciality Hospitals.
(C) Connectivity & Growth : Extensive connectivity through rail, road and the waterways is proposed and under-development in the region. Projects like Mumbai Nagpur Super Expressway and expansion of NH-3 and NH-4 Highways has promoted the strengthening of northern, eastern and north-eastern industrial and residential corridors, i.e Thane, Vasai, Kalyan, Panvel etc. Such large-scale projects promote Transit Oriented Development.
With significant planned growth of the region envisioned in policy and frameworks at the Urban Local Bodies, the Karnavat Group is at the forefront of the development projects and strategic land acquisitions. The Karnavat Group has successfully acquired over 800+ acres of land in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and is targeting its acquisition of over 1000+ acres within the next two years. Our team is focused on identifying local necessities and requirements and accordingly propose sale/ joint venture of our lands for Projects. One of the Best Land Acquisition Companies in Mumbai, the Karnavat Group is proud to be at the pulse of the growth of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and invest in a long-term vision of advancing Mumbai to the global arena and competing with metropolis like Singapore, Shanghai etc.
For further information, please visit: www.karnavatgroup.com
