Mumbai Metropolitan Region to get a facelift, transformed into growth hub

Mumbai: Three months after it started a new innings with a landslide majority, the Maha Yuti-NDA government on Monday unveiled its plans to transform the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) as a big growth hub and boost development in the golden triangle comprising the sprawling Mumbai-Pune-Nashik belt.

As the Devendra Fadnavis-led government presented the Budget 2025-26, several initiatives were announced.

“The budget gives a major boost to the development of Maharashtra,” said Fadnavis, who was accompanied by Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who is also the state’s Finance and Planning Minister.

The MMR comprises the twin districts of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban and adjoining districts of Thane, Palghar and Raigad.

“The MMR will be developed as an international level economic development center, a Growth Hub. International level business centers will be established at seven locations, such as Bandra-Kurla Complex, Kurla-Worli, Wadala, Goregaon, Navi Mumbai, Kharghar, and Virar-Boisar. The objective is to increase the size of the economy of Mumbai Metropolitan Region from the current US $140 billion to US $300 billion by 2030, and to US $1.5 trillion by 2047,” the budget document states.

As much as 85 per cent work of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, spread in 1,160 hectares, is completed and domestic flights will operate in April 2025.

Meanwhile, Metro work will be taken up soon to link the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai to Navi Mumbai International Airport.

The third airport for MMR would come up near the Vadhawan port in the Palghar district.

A station on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train route will be established near the Vadhavan Port.

Besides, Vadhavan Port would also be connected to the Samruddhi Mahamarg.

The work for the floating jetty at Kashid in Raigad district will begin soon.

A policy will be announced to provide financial incentives for modern, well-equipped boats to ensure safe travel from Gateway of India, Mumbai to Mandwa and Elephanta.

An elevated route from Thane to Navi Mumbai would also come up.

The Swatantryaveer Savarkar Versova Vandre Sea Link project, spanning 14 km between Bandra and Versova, at an estimated cost of Rs 18,120 crores, is scheduled to be completed by May 2028.

Work for Pune to Shirur road spanning 564 Km worth Rs 7,515 crores will be undertaken. Also 25 Km Road from Talegaon to Chakan including 4 elevated roads will be undertaken for which estimated expenditure is Rs.6,499 crores

A total of 143.57 km of metro lines will be operational for the citizens

of Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune metropolitan cities. A total of 64.4 km of metro lines, including 2 km in Pune and 23.2 km in Pune, will be operational in the next five years.

The Nashik district, which would play host to the 2027 Simhastha Kumbh Mela too would see massive development.

Rs 146.10 crore will be allocated for the development of Ramkund, Kalaram Temple, and Goda riverbank in Nashik under the Ramkal Path Development Project. Ahead of the festivities, a Namami Godavari campaign outline has been prepared, and a special authority will be established for the systematic organization of the event.