October 22, 2025: The Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) has unveiled a new initiative aimed at transforming the city’s landscape by partnering with private entities. Under this Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the civic body plans to lease out garden-reserved plots and road dividers to banks, industries, developers, and NGOs for development and maintenance. The initiative also includes the creation of Miyawaki forests to enhance greenery across the region.
A senior civic official said the project is designed to give Vasai-Virar a “pleasant and soothing” visual appeal. “We’ve invited banks, industrial associations, developers, and NGOs to join hands with us in beautifying the city. This is the first time such a project is being introduced in Vasai-Virar, and we’re expecting encouraging participation,” the official stated.
Civic activist Deepak Rao, known for his efforts to protect water bodies and remove encroachments in Vasai-Virar, welcomed the move as a cost-effective and sustainable approach. “Usually, to develop a garden, the corporation has to float a tender and oversee execution. Many times, the work is either substandard or marred by irregularities, leading to wastage of taxpayers’ money,” Rao said. “Under the PPP model, not only will the city get green patches, but the public exchequer will also save significantly.”
The VVCMC clarified that private participants will handle both development and long-term maintenance of the spaces. Activists have highlighted that upkeep will be key to the initiative’s success. “Development is only half the job,” Rao added. “If the PPP model works efficiently, the corporation will save substantial amounts otherwise spent on maintenance and security services.”
Source: The Times of India
