The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has earmarked a Rs 26 billion city development plan, which focuses on improving the connectivity with Mumbai and satellite towns of the metropolis, like Kalyan and Vasai. The corporation hopes to receive grants from the Central and state governments under the National Urban Renewal Mission (NURM) to execute the plan.
The plan was tabled before the general body on November 14 for approval. Once it gets a nod from the state government as well, it would be submitted to the Centre for final approval, according to Navi Mumbai's municipal commissioner Madukar Kokate.
Under the connectivity improvement scheme, the ring railway route has been proposed by upgrading the existing rail network as well as laying a new line. The plan envisages connecting Navi Mumbai with Kalyan via Diva, and laying of Thane-Vashi-Kurla-Thane ring route on the suburban railway. It also envisages extension of the present suburban trains up to Uran, instead of stopping them at Panvel, as it would provide faster and cheaper access to those who work at JNPT.
Besides, the plan also talks of four-laning the route between Mankhurd and Belapur to ensure higher frequency on the harbour-suburban route.
Ferry service is also being proposed between Vasai and Belapur to facilitate direct connectivity of Navi Mumbai with the western suburbs. The proposed ferry service would have stops at Vashi, Nerul, Airoli, Thane and Ghodbandar.
A third bridge on Thane creek to connect Kannmwarnagar in Mumbai with Koparkhairane in Navi Mumbai is also envisaged which would provide easy access to the residents of Navi Mumabi with the western suburbs via roadway.
The bigger challenge facing the corporation is to convince the Centre for grants under NURM as municipal corporations in Thane district like NMMC, Mira-Bhyander and Kalyan-Dombivali have not been included in the list of cities eligible for grants under the scheme.
Though the cities are part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region only for administrative purpose, they are separate municipal corporations.