Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant told the Legislative Assembly that Bhiwandi could become Asia’s largest logistics hub. Responding to Bhiwandi East MLA Rais Shaikh, he announced a committee—comprising officials from the industries and urban development departments and including Shaikh—to frame a policy and tackle technical hurdles such as appointing an IAS officer to oversee the area and redefining the Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s powers.

Bhiwandi already hosts a dense network of warehouses serving leading e commerce firms, and its jurisdiction of 144 square kilometres—about 30 per cent the size of Mumbai—covers the city and 60 surrounding villages. Shaikh pressed for urgent action, warning that illegal encroachments on government land valued at about Rs 30 billion must be curbed and that recent building collapses highlight the need for stricter oversight.