Dr. Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner of MMRDA, presented an ambitious infrastructure vision at The Economic Times Great India Retail Summit 2025 to propel Mumbai’s commercial and retail growth. He underlined that accessibility and connection are the foundations of a flourishing retail sector during a keynote address titled “Connectivity to Commerce: How MMRDA is Powering Mumbai’s Retail and Real Estate Boom.”
Introducing the Mumbai in Minutes initiative, Mukherjee outlined plans to reduce travel time across the city to under an hour. A vast network of seven-ring roads, expressways, and metro lines is being developed to enhance mobility, ultimately increasing retail footfall and improving consumer convenience.
The Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) and the Western Coastal Road are two important infrastructure projects that MMRDA is currently concentrating on expediting because they would greatly enhance connectivity between Mumbai and its suburban areas. New retail opportunities at transit hubs are also anticipated as a result of the integration of metro corridors with commercial locations.
“Our 337-kilometre metro network under development will redefine commuting in Mumbai, unlocking fresh opportunities for retail and commercial hubs,” Mukherjee stated. He projected that Mumbai’s retail landscape will undergo a major transformation in the next five years as these projects reach completion.
Mumbai 3.0, a fourth-generation metropolis next to Atal Setu intended to foster retail and commercial expansion, is a key component of MMRDA’s long-term ambition. Mukherjee invited everyone with ideas for creating a special retail corridor in this futuristic metropolis to submit their ideas.
Addressing the importance of small businesses, he reaffirmed MMRDA’s commitment to fostering both large and small retailers through metro retail spaces, commercial zones, and logistics hubs. “We are ensuring that businesses of all sizes thrive,” he added, highlighting retail spaces being integrated within metro stations to create high-footfall commercial areas.
MMRDA is leading significant initiatives like the extension of the suburban rail network, multimodal corridors, and the Vidar-Varasova Sea Link to further improve regional connectivity. Furthermore, it will only take 30 minutes to get from Palghar to BKC thanks to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train, opening up new avenues for business and retail expansion.
Source: ET Retail
