State pulls in NMMC to develop 14 new villages nearby

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has officially taken over as the planning authority for 14 villages that were merged into the jurisdiction in March. These villages are located near the borders of Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Kalyan. This change was made through a state government notification on August 23.

Previously, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) was responsible for planning in these areas. The goal is to boost the development of infrastructure in these villages, which have lagged despite their closeness to more developed districts. 

Until 2007, the villages near Shilphata Junction were represented by a corporation in the NMMC. However, following violent agitations, the villages separated from NMMC. Over the last nine years, as Navi Mumbai continued to grow, residents of these villages began demanding re-merger due to the lack of development in their areas.

The state government responded to these demands by releasing a draft notification in September 2022. This led to the formal merger of the villages with NMMC in March. However, because MMRDA was still the planning authority at that time, NMMC faced technical difficulties in initiating infrastructure development. 

The recent notification comes six months after NMMC's request for authority. It grants them the power to proceed with development plans. Now, NMMC will need to create a fresh development plan for the newly merged territories. The existing development plan for NMMC’s previous jurisdiction is still awaiting state government approval. 

Until then, the civic body will continue to follow the MMRDA's approved plan, the MMR regional plan of June 2021, and the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations of December 2020 in these villages. Ongoing and previously approved MMRDA projects will be taken up by NMMC in coordination with MMRDA.

NMMC will now have to secure funds for these development efforts. The civic body has requested financial support from the state government, estimating that the development will cost INR 6,100 crore. Another concern for NMMC is the issue of unauthorised construction and encroachment in the area.