December 12, 2025: Thane is set to receive significant technical support from Japan to enhance its civic services, digital governance systems and urban infrastructure. A formal Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) has been signed between Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) and the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), marking a new partnership focused on technology-driven urban development.
According to a statement issued by TMC on Thursday evening, the agreement was signed by Kawamura Kenichi, deputy minister of MLIT, and Saurabh Rao, Thane commissioner. The collaboration aims to strengthen areas such as smart city management, exchange of technological expertise and the rollout of innovative projects that can improve efficiency in municipal operations.
Under the MoC, Thane will work closely with Japanese experts to explore advanced solutions for city administration, digital platforms, and infrastructure planning. The partnership is expected to help the city adopt global best practices in urban technology, with a focus on improving public services and long-term sustainability.
Officials said the cooperation would create opportunities for knowledge sharing, training and pilot initiatives that could be scaled across different departments of the municipal corporation. The move aligns with Thane’s broader plans to expand smart city systems, improve data-driven governance, and introduce next-generation urban tools.
With the agreement now in place, both MLIT and TMC will begin outlining specific areas of collaboration and identifying priority projects. The partnership is viewed as an important step in elevating Thane’s technological capabilities and strengthening its infrastructure strategy through international expertise.
Source: The Times of India
