MMRDA unveils 350 sq km development plan on city’s harbour line

According to a high-ranking official, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has put forth plans to establish a sprawling settlement covering 350 square kilometres along the city's harbour. Sanjay Mukherjee, the commissioner of MMRDA, unveiled this ambitious vision emphasizing the authority's goal of transforming the region into the country's fastest-growing centre over the next decade. This transformation is anticipated to be driven by the forthcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and the Mumbai Transharbour Link (MTHL).Mukherjee, speaking at an event organised by the industry group Naredco, shared, MMRDA has proposed the creation of a new urban enclave where the MTHL will connect. The MTHL project is poised to be a game-changer.This envisioned urban enclave will encompass a vast area of 350 square kilometres. To put this in perspective, Mumbai covers over 600 square kilometres, Navi Mumbai spans 344 square kilometres, and the neighbouring Naina city, being planned by Cidco, stretches over 370 square kilometres.Mukherjee clarified that this proposed development differs from Naina and refrained from disclosing additional specifics. He also highlighted MMRDA's intention to prioritize infrastructure like transportation connectivity before the construction of buildings, setting it apart from many other settlements in the country.Mukherjee went on to explain the significant economic impact of the MTHL and NMIA projects, asserting that each is expected to contribute an additional 1 percentage point to the national GDP, thereby elevating the Navi Mumbai region into a thriving hub of economic activity. Drawing a parallel, he noted that the Bandra Kurla Complex business district developed by MMRDA a few decades ago and spanning 160 hectares, currently contributes 2.8% of the national GDP.Furthermore, Mukherjee expressed that 2025 will mark a pivotal year in the city's infrastructure development journey, highlighting that numerous ongoing projects will come to fruition around that time. He also shared that the NMIA is scheduled for completion by the end of 2024.