The Maharashtra government has started working on the plan to develop the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) into a global hub, as recommended by NITI Aayog. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been assigned as the Special Planning Authority (SPA) to oversee the project's execution.
The MMR spans over 6,355 square kilometres, but initially the plan will focus on developing only 1,250 square kilometers. MMRDA will be in charge of 446 villages located in the Palghar and Raigad districts. These areas have seen only limited development so far, and the plan is to develop them comprehensively.
Of the 446 villages chosen for development, 223 are in the talukas of Vasai and Palghar in the Palghar district. The remaining villages are in the talukas of Alibaug, Pen, Panvel, and Khalapur in the Raigad district.
The MMRDA’s boundaries now include the southern part of the Patalganga River and extend to Pen taluka in the Raigad district. Villages from Khalapur, Pen, and Alibaug have also been added to the MMR area.
MMRDA will work on improving the infrastructure in these regions. The development will include metro links, better roads, bridges, new drainage, and sewer systems. Additionally, there will be updated rules for real estate development.
The plan will develop MMR as a global financial centre by boosting key sectors. These include fintech, robotics, artificial intelligence, health, education, global aviation services, and entertainment. The state government is targeting USD 300 billion GDP for the region by FY 2029-2030.
NITI Aayog, the central government’s think tank, is also focused on achieving this economic goal. The plan will be carried out alongside other major projects already underway in and around MMR. Some of these projects include the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor, the Vadhavan Port, the Palghar bullet train station, and a new suburban rail corridor on the Panvel-Karjat route.
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