MahaMetro has begun preparing and implementing Land Use Action Plans under its Transit-Oriented Development policy to transform corridors within 500 metres of metro stations into dense growth hubs. The managing director, Shravan Hardikar, announced the initiative during the Global Capability Centres meeting at the Advantage Vidarbha event on Sunday. The plans aim to redesign station areas as modern urban hubs with improved multimodal connectivity and faster last-mile travel.

The Land Use Action Plans will encourage mixed-use development so that offices, colleges, shops, hospitals and homes are located close to public transport, supporting increased footfall and reduced commute times. Hardikar indicated that Global Capability Centres are likely to locate along these corridors owing to direct metro access. He emphasised that infrastructure alone is insufficient to attract and retain talent and that cities must offer a high quality of life.

The managing director highlighted that entertainment, cultural spaces and a lively city atmosphere are essential components of urban livability which influence where young professionals choose to work and live. He observed that people continue to migrate to larger cities because of superior social and lifestyle facilities despite challenges such as water shortages, and that creating this livability factor is central to Nagpur's growth. The approach links land use reforms with placemaking to bolster the city’s attractiveness.

Nagpur Improvement Trust chairman Sanjay Meena said the New Nagpur Business District is being developed to provide a clear commercial centre, with Indian and international experts contributing to the master plan. Meena outlined infrastructure planning for the next 20 years, including a new 140-km ring road, multimodal and industrial corridors, and reliable water and power supply. He added that organised land allotment and a fully online single-window approval system will simplify establishment for domestic and foreign companies.