Fayaz Wani
Mumbai, Oct 7 (KNS): The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is driving Mumbai’s rapid urban transformation through a series of mega infrastructure projects designed to reduce traffic congestion, expand public transport, and promote sustainable development across the metropolitan region.
A visiting media delegation from Jammu and Kashmir, sponsored by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) and led by Director PIB Jammu, Neha Jalali, was briefed at the MMRDA headquarters on Monday. The interaction, coordinated by PIB Mumbai, focused on Mumbai’s ongoing infrastructure revolution and its potential lessons for other regions.
During the session, senior MMRDA official S.C. Desh Panday, who has over three decades of experience in urban planning, shared insights into the authority’s approach to planning, vision, and execution behind Mumbai’s landmark projects.
Expressing his willingness to support Jammu and Kashmir’s growth story, Panday said, “If the J&K government needs my guidance, I am ready to cooperate and contribute to the region’s development.” He added that he recently visited Kashmir and was deeply impressed by its scenic beauty and vast potential for world-class infrastructure projects.
Established to ensure planned and balanced regional growth, MMRDA oversees the development of the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which includes Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, and parts of Raigad district.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Officials informed the delegation that MMRDA is executing several transformative projects — including the Mumbai Metro network, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), and multiple elevated corridors and flyovers — connecting the city’s distant suburbs with its commercial centers. The development of the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) into a premier business district is also one of MMRDA’s major achievements.
Beyond infrastructure, MMRDA is equally focused on urban rehabilitation, housing, and environmental sustainability. Its initiatives aim to curb vehicular pollution, increase green zones, and strengthen disaster management systems across the metropolitan area.
Dr. Shanker Deshpande, Chief of the Town and Country Planning Division, briefed the delegation on MMRDA’s long-term urban development strategy for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region — home to over 25.8 million people. Highlighting key projects like the Metro Network and Atal Setu, he said the Authority remains committed to “sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready urban growth.”
Officials reiterated that MMRDA’s mission is to transform Mumbai into a modern, resilient, and globally competitive metropolis — ensuring that development goes hand-in-hand with sustainability and an improved quality of life for its citizens. (KNS)