The 7 Megaprojects that will change the face of Navi Mumbai
Navi Mumbai, a city that has been meticulously planned and developed since 1970s, is set out to experience a massive infrastructural boost. With its close proximity to Pune and all nodal points in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai will reap the rich rewards for its attractive location, as the major infrastructural initiatives planned by the Government start materialising.
Navi Mumbai International Airport
The foremost amongst these infrastructural developments is Navi Mumbai International Airport. The Government expects the first phase of this mega project worth Rs. 16,000 crores to be complete and operational by 2023. This would make Kharghar not just an easily navigable MMR hotspot, but also a business thoroughfare for existing power–centres across the world – US, China, Russia, Japan, the Middle East, to name a few.
An Enormous Business District in Kharghar
Kharghar is the most developed amongst all the nodes of Navi Mumbai. It is strategically located at a driving distance of merely 12 kms from the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport. CIDCO (The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd) plans to develop here a business district that will be in the lines of Bandra Kurla Complex of Mumbai. Apart from housing large businesses, this township will support an estimated population of 1 lakh and will be a place where people can walk to work. It will be replete with education institutes, entertainment and healthcare options to offer a richer lifestyle to its inhabitants.
This Business District will be connected to Thane – with 3 km long tunnel through Parsik Hill. This project is estimated to cost Rs. 3,000 crores.
Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and A cloverleaf Interchange
A revolutionary initiative that will rapidly and smoothly connect Navi Mumbai right to the heart of Mumbai is being constructed in the form of Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) by MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.) It will connect Sewri in South-central Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Navi Mumbai. The project is already making stupendous progress.
This MTHL will further be connected with four key roads in Mumbai in the form of a Cloverleaf Interchange Loop, that will enhance connectivity between Navi Mumbai and Central and South Mumbai.
New Metro Route for Navi Mumbai
Along with the construction of sea-bridges and roads, the Government is also determined to see the development of rapid mass transit system that will benefit scores of people in one go. Hence, Government of Maharashtra has cleared a new Metro Railway project of 33.15 km from Navi Mumbai International Airport to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport.
Water Taxi and Connectivity through Water Transport
Mumbai Port Trust plans to launch Water Taxi service between ‘Bhau cha Dhakka’ in Mumbai to Belapur and Nerul in Navi Mumbai. Moreover, a feasibility study by Mumbai Port Trust shows favourable results for connecting the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport through underutilized shoreline using catamarans, hovercrafts and seaplanes to the neighbouring cities of Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan and Vasai.
Navi Mumbai Coastal Road
CIDCO plans to connect Kharghar to Amra Marg at Panvel through a coastal road by 2021 equipped with Intelligent Traffic Control System. This road will ensure unhindered traffic movement between Navi Mumbai International Airport and Mumbai Trans Harbour Link.
Navi Mumbai: An upcoming Corporate Hub
Attractively priced land and abundant supply of qualified human resource are acting as magnets that are pulling major corporates and real estate developers to Navi Mumbai. The rate of office absorption has grown five-fold in last five years, and currently there is 18 million sq. ft. of office space under operation in Navi Mumbai. Both Indian and international companies like Accenture, L&T Infotech, Capgemini, UBS and Axis Bank, and IKEA Furniture have already set up offices here or are planning to do so.
Navi Mumbai: The future
With all the rapid development going on, offering its inhabitants the professional and personal needs – Navi Mumbai is all set to get the throne of a true 21st century city.
Courtesy: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
