In recognition of his contribution to Thane’s emergence as a key commercial node, Hiren Chheda, Managing Director of Ekatva Group, has been appointed President of the Commercial Development Committee of MCHI Thane. The appointment reflects the industry’s intent to leverage Mr Chheda’s strategic vision and development expertise to shape Thane’s evolving commercial real estate landscape in line with future business needs and urban growth. Speaking on his new role, Mr Chheda said, “Our mission is to foster a sustainable ecosystem that promotes economic growth and amplifies the business experience. With thousands of budget, semi-premium and premium residential developments by leading national and regional developers coming up in Thane, we are presented with a tremendous opportunity to bolster the commercial real estate sector. The right planning and appropriate product mix of office spaces can prove to be a game-changer for Thane.”   Aligned with Ekatva Group’s broader development ethos, Mr Chheda intends to encourage the creation of small-to-medium sized commercial hubs within residential zones of Thane, enabling a ‘Walk to Work’ culture and boosting local employment. Under his leadership, MCHI Thane’s Commercial Development Committee will collaborate with government agencies, urban planners and industry stakeholders to develop micro-markets across the city. A key agenda will be attracting investments from sectors such as IT/ITeS, BFSI, healthcare, logistics and co-working to build integrated commercial zones that cater to corporates, SMEs and startups alike. “Instead of competing with established markets, our aim is to highlight Thane’s strategic location, affordability, and quality of life to position it as an attractive, efficient base for business operations close to skilled and semi-skilled talent,” Mr Chheda added. The Committee plans to work closely with municipal and state-level authorities to expedite project approvals and ensure timely delivery of commercial projects. “We will function as a bridge between developers and policymakers to identify pain points, simplify procedures, and secure clearances that are critical to commercial expansion,” said Mr Chheda. Sustainability will be a central tenet of the Committee’s development roadmap. “We will align with government goals on green building norms, ESG compliance, and energy efficiency. Our partnerships with public entities will ensure that commercial growth does not compromise urban resilience,” Mr Chheda noted. Further, the Committee is engaging with civic authorities to expand city bus networks and shared mobility options, ensuring improved last-mile connectivity to central business zones across Thane. This is intended to ease employee transit and support the infrastructure needs of upcoming commercial spaces. The overarching vision is to integrate public and private efforts to transform Thane into a vibrant, inclusive and future-ready commercial destination—not just within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region but on a national scale.