The Maharashtra government and Indian Railways are accelerating the construction of suburban rail corridors in the projected “Third Mumbai”—officially known as Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town—in a daring move towards future-ready urbanisation. The area, which spans 323 square kilometres and is close to Atal Setu and Navi Mumbai International Airport, is becoming a key component of next-generation infrastructure as part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase 4 (MUTP-4), which is being overseen by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
According to senior railway officials, the proposed corridors will connect KSC New Town with Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, enabling seamless transit for residents and businesses. The network is expected to integrate with future metro lines and may feature access-controlled suburban stations — a first for Mumbai’s local train system. A consultant will soon be appointed to create a detailed master plan for the extensive greenfield projects, a task expected to take up to three years.
Modern safety and signalling technologies like Kavach 5 will be used by MRVC as part of MUTP-4, which will lessen crowding and improve commuter safety. The Panvel-Vasai and Badlapur-Karjat linkages, flood-resilient infrastructure with subterranean water holding systems, and separate corridors for suburban and long-distance trains are also planned. The goal of these initiatives is to enhance the commuter experience and lessen the annual transportation immobility brought on by the city’s monsoon.
On the broader urban planning front, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has inked agreements worth Rs 4.07 lakh crore to transform Third Mumbai into a smart city and economic nucleus. This transformation includes investments in housing, green mobility, multimodal transit hubs, logistics infrastructure, and digital services — all geared towards building a USD 300 billion economy by 2030.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added an academic element when he announced that five internationally recognised foreign universities, including three from the US and one each from Australia and the UK, are in talks to open campuses in Third Mumbai’s planned “Edu City.” These schools will concentrate on fields including emerging technologies, business management, engineering, and healthcare. We are awaiting the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) final clearances.
The MMRDA is also collaborating with international partners, including a recent delegation from South Korea, to fast-track projects related to fintech incubation, green mobility, and smart city infrastructure. Planned developments include mixed-use tech parks, affordable housing clusters, data centres, and transit-oriented urban zones promoting sustainable living.
Third Mumbai is positioned to revolutionise urban growth in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area thanks to its advantageous location at the eastern end of the Atal Setu and its all-inclusive plan for innovation, education, and transportation.
Source: Times Property
