January 8, 2026: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which earlier functioned largely as a lending body, has been transformed into a key driver of large-scale infrastructure development under the Mahayuti government. Speaking at an election rally in Kalyan ahead of the January 15 polls to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), he outlined an ambitious vision for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Fadnavis said that prior to 2014, MMRDA operated more like a “bank” for Mumbai, but its original mandate was to plan, fund and execute infrastructure projects across the entire metropolitan region. “MMRDA is not a bank; it was created to fund and build infrastructure across the entire metropolitan area,” the Chief Minister said.
He added that he and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have collectively initiated infrastructure projects worth nearly Rs 4 lakh crore through the authority, spanning water supply schemes, road networks and a rapidly expanding metro system. MMRDA, a state-run agency, is responsible for preparing the regional development plan and implementing major infrastructure projects across the MMR.
Making a major announcement for daily commuters, Fadnavis promised a complete overhaul of Mumbai’s suburban railway experience. “Our lifeline is the local train, and while we have developed stations and escalators under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, we are now bringing a bigger gift. All local trains will eventually have AC coaches with closed doors, similar to the metro,” he said. He also assured commuters that “the second-class ticket price will not increase by even one rupee.”
Highlighting infrastructure projects such as the Airoli-Katai Naka Freeway, multi-modal corridors and east-west connectivity tunnels, Fadnavis described them as “game changers” for Kalyan-Dombivli. He also announced plans for a major business district on the lines of Mumbai’s BKC, along with bullet train-linked development and data centres to create large-scale employment.
Urging voters to give the BJP-led Mahayuti an “unprecedented mandate” on January 15, Fadnavis said the aim is to make Kalyan-Dombivli the country’s best municipal corporation within five years. Results for KDMC, among 29 civic bodies going to polls, will be declared on January 16.
Later, addressing a public meeting in Ulhasnagar, Fadnavis said, “Ulhasnagar will be governed by the rule of law. There is no place for lawlessness here.” He expressed concern over the city’s lack of development, adding, “Although Ulhasnagar is called a city, in many areas, the situation is worse than that of a village… Now is the time to seriously address this reality.”
