Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jan 22: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday announced the establishment of a new business district at Raigad-Pen, on the lines of the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), describing it as the first city in the planned Third Mumbai region aimed at decongesting Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Fadnavis said the proposed growth centre will be developed 15–20 km from the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Permissions for the project were secured over the last four years, enabling companies to begin operations immediately on a “plug-and-play” basis.
He said the project will be developed through a collaboration between the state government, MMRDA and private entities, and will focus on generating well-paid jobs, setting up global capability centres, and creating a strong fintech ecosystem. Facilities such as ‘walk-to-work’ infrastructure will also be part of the plan, the CM added.
Following the announcement, MoUs worth around ?1 lakh crore were signed with several international and domestic firms, including Republic of Korea’s Havana Group, Switzerland’s SSB Group, Ensar, FedEx and Tribeca Developers (US), Finland’s River Recycle Group, Dubai’s MGSA Group, Singapore-based Spaces Holding Maple Tree, Genevieve, and Indospace Park Group.
A senior MMRDA official said the first phase of the Third Mumbai, officially known as the Karnala–Sai–Chirner (KSC) New Town, will involve drone-based mapping, followed by detailed studies using LiDAR and advanced remote sensing technologies.
Planned across 124 villages in Raigad district, the KSC New Town falls within the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA), the blueprint of which was placed in the public domain in 2013.
The official said one consultant will be appointed for aerial surveys, ground verification, compilation of land ownership records, GIS-based mapping and preparation of a land use plan. A separate private agency will be tasked with preparing a vision document, comprehensive master plan and detailed development strategy.
The planning exercise will cover 323.4 sq km, nearly half of which currently consists of hills, forest areas and agricultural land. While the master plan and development strategy are targeted for completion by August, the aerial and on-ground surveys alone are expected to take six to eight months.
The KSC New Town is also being positioned as a key component of efforts to raise the Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s GDP to $300 billion over the next five years, in line with NITI Aayog’s transformation roadmap, officials said.