‘Third Mumbai’ will attract outsiders, locals will suffer as govt keeps them in dark, claims Raj Thackeray

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 ldquoThird Mumbairdquo city which he said would attract outsiders at the expense of local people whose land is being acquired news agency PTI reportedThird Mumbai or the KarnalaSaiChirner 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 growthAddressing a press conference Thackeray said the common people were unaware of the governmentrsquos plans for the proposed Third Mumbai cityHe 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 facilitiesldquoDoes Maharashtra know what the government intends to do in Third Mumbai Are our youth ready for thisrdquo Thackeray askedHe said land in the Pen Panvel and Uran talukas of Raigad district was being acquired from local residentsldquoWhat 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 Mumbairdquo claimed the MNS chiefSuggesting irregularities in land deals he alleged that landrelated transactions had become the only business in MaharashtraThackeray said the livelihoods of local residents were being affected by land acquisition and appealed to people to oppose the exerciseMMRDA signs agreement with Surbana Jurong to prepare Mumbai 30 master planThe Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority MMRDA on Friday signed an agreement with Singaporebased Surbana Jurong Infrastructure to prepare the Vision Document Master Plan and planning framework for the Mumbai 30 projectThe agreement was signed by MMRDA Metropolitan Commissioner Dr Sanjay Mukherjee and Surbana Jurongs Chief Executive South Asia Avinash Mishra in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisThe consultancy will prepare a comprehensive development blueprint for the proposed 32344 sq km Mumbai 30 spread across 124 villages in Panvel Uran and Pen talukas of Raigad district MMRDA said in a statementAccording to the statement the final concept plan is expected to be completed within 30 weeksAccording to MMRDA the consultancy will prepare an inception report analyse the existing situation develop a vision plan draft a concept landuse plan conduct stakeholder consultations and submit the final concept planThe planning exercise will assess existing land use transport networks demographics socioeconomic conditions utilities environmental features and public amenities before proposing a longterm spatial and economic development frameworkThe statement said that the Vision Document will outline Mumbai 30s economic positioning investment strategy growth sectors catalytic projects and placemaking principles to develop it into a globally competitive and sustainable urban centreThe draft concept plan will integrate three major components a Concept Structure Plan Concept Mobility Plan and Concept Infrastructure PlanThe mobility plan will focus on regional and intracity connectivity mass transit systems multimodal integration pedestrianfriendly infrastructure and TransitOriented Development TOD while the infrastructure plan will cover water supply sewerage stormwater drainage solid waste management power gas supply and social infrastructureMMRDA said the planning process would also include consultations with government departments line agencies and other stakeholders before finalising the landuse planWith PTI inputs