With the cash-strapped Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) being made the special planning authority (SPA) of the area adjacent to Mumbai-Pune Expressway, it is now seen as strong competition to MMRDA, which is believed to be a good planning agency. Many infrastructure projects including Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link and water transport project on the east and west coasts of Mumbai which were originally planned by MSRDC, were transferred to MMRDA and other agencies with the belief that these agencies are better than MSRDC.

With the SPA tag, MSRDC will develop growth centres on the expressway and its financial condition will improve further.