09 August,2026 08:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray. File Pic
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday accused the state government of keeping people in the dark about its development plans for the proposed "Third Mumbai" city, which he said would attract outsiders at the expense of local people whose land is being acquired, news agency PTI reported.
Third Mumbai, or the Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, is a planned smart city spanning roughly 323 - 334 square kilometres across 124 villages in coastal Raigad district. It aims to decongest the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and drive regional economic growth.
Addressing a press conference, Thackeray said the common people were unaware of the government's plans for the proposed Third Mumbai city.
He further stated that the planned region would house an education city, a medical city, a sports centre, a data centre, a global capability centre, and research centres, among other facilities.
"Does Maharashtra know what the government intends to do in Third Mumbai? Are our youth ready for this?" Thackeray asked.
He said land in the Pen, Panvel, and Uran talukas of Raigad district was being acquired from local residents.
"What is the state government doing for local people? Is the government preparing the youth for this new city? On the other hand, other states know what is happening here. They are preparing their youth, while those in Maharashtra are not aware of what is happening in Third Mumbai," claimed the MNS chief.
Suggesting irregularities in land deals, he alleged that land-related transactions had become the only business in Maharashtra.
Thackeray said the livelihoods of local residents were being affected by land acquisition and appealed to people to oppose the exercise.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) on Friday signed an agreement with Singapore-based Surbana Jurong Infrastructure to prepare the Vision Document, Master Plan and planning framework for the Mumbai 3.0 project.
The agreement was signed by MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee and Surbana Jurong's Chief Executive (South Asia) Avinash Mishra in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The consultancy will prepare a comprehensive development blueprint for the proposed 323.44 sq. km Mumbai 3.0, spread across 124 villages in Panvel, Uran and Pen talukas of Raigad district, MMRDA said in a statement.
According to the statement, the final concept plan is expected to be completed within 30 weeks.
According to MMRDA, the consultancy will prepare an inception report, analyse the existing situation, develop a vision plan, draft a concept land-use plan, conduct stakeholder consultations and submit the final concept plan.
The planning exercise will assess existing land use, transport networks, demographics, socio-economic conditions, utilities, environmental features and public amenities before proposing a long-term spatial and economic development framework.
The statement said that the Vision Document will outline Mumbai 3.0's economic positioning, investment strategy, growth sectors, catalytic projects and place-making principles, to develop it into a globally competitive and sustainable urban centre.
The draft concept plan will integrate three major components: a Concept Structure Plan, Concept Mobility Plan and Concept Infrastructure Plan.
The mobility plan will focus on regional and intra-city connectivity, mass transit systems, multimodal integration, pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), while the infrastructure plan will cover water supply, sewerage, stormwater drainage, solid waste management, power, gas supply and social infrastructure.
MMRDA said the planning process would also include consultations with government departments, line agencies and other stakeholders before finalising the land-use plan.
(With PTI inputs)
