By Arosh John | Founder – John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835) | Editor-in-Chief – Thane Real Estate News (TREN)
Thane – MMR | October 2025
Maharashtra’s Next Big City Takes Shape
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is moving ahead with the Third Mumbai project, officially known as the Karnala–Sai–Chirner (KSC) New Town.
Often referred to as “Mumbai 3.0” in public discussions, the project’s official designation under MMRDA is Third Mumbai.
To speed up execution, MMRDA will adopt the proven land-acquisition frameworks used by CIDCO and MIDC, both of which have successfully guided large-scale urban growth in Maharashtra.
Planned across 323.44 sq km and 124 villages in Uran, Panvel, and Pen talukas of Raigad district, the new city lies close to the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and the Navi Mumbai International Airport, positioning it as one of the region’s most strategic expansion zones.
Borrowing from Proven Models
Instead of drafting a new policy, MMRDA intends to adapt key principles from CIDCO’s land-pooling system and MIDC’s cluster-based planning.
In Navi Mumbai, CIDCO’s approach — where original landowners received a portion of serviced land after development — helped build trust and accelerate growth. MIDC’s experience, meanwhile, shows how planned industrial zones can stimulate employment and local enterprise.
By merging these two philosophies, MMRDA aims to balance fair compensation with structured, long-term regional planning for Third Mumbai.
Local Concerns on the Ground
Farmer groups such as the MMRDA KSC Navnagar Virodhi Shetkari Samiti Raigad have raised concerns about livelihood and compensation. MMRDA has said it will conduct consultations and social-impact studies before any large-scale land transfer to keep the process equitable and transparent.
A New Growth Engine for MMR
Third Mumbai is envisioned as a self-sustaining urban hub that integrates housing, industry, and logistics while easing pressure on existing city cores.
If executed well, the project could unlock large-scale investment across Raigad — drawing developers, logistics operators, and industries seeking proximity to the airport, seaport, and MTHL corridor.
The Road Ahead
MMRDA is preparing the Development Plan (DP) and forming a New Town Development Authority (NTDA) to govern KSC.
Official timelines have yet to be announced, but adopting CIDCO and MIDC’s frameworks provides the project with a structured, transparent foundation for what may become Maharashtra’s most significant urban expansion in decades.
About the Author
Arosh John is the Founder of John Real Estate (MahaRERA Reg. No. A51700001835) and Editor-in-Chief of Thane Real Estate News (TREN) — a digital platform dedicated to factual, insight-driven coverage of Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s evolving property landscape. With over a decade of on-the-ground experience across Thane’s residential, villa, and infrastructure-led corridors, Arosh combines local market intelligence with regulatory insight to decode how policies, infrastructure, and urban planning shape real-estate value. He is widely regarded as one of the emerging voices of Thane’s new-age property journalism — bridging professional advisory and data-backed reporting for investors, developers, and end-users alike.
Disclaimer
All names, logos, and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Information referenced from Hindustan Times (24 Oct 2025) and official MMRDA communications. Readers should verify details through government notifications before making investment decisions.
