The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has achieved an important early breakthrough in its ambitious Third Mumbai initiative, with more than 160 farmers and landowners agreeing to participate in the land acquisition process for the proposed Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town in Raigad district.
The consents mark a significant step forward for the large-scale urban development project, which is planned across 124 villages spread over Uran, Panvel, and Pen talukas. MMRDA is currently undertaking land acquisition for approximately 323.44 square kilometres earmarked for the KSC New Town, envisioned as a major future growth hub within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Strategically located near key infrastructure projects such as the Navi Mumbai International Airport and the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu), the proposed township is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the region’s long-term urban expansion.
As the designated New Town Development Authority, MMRDA initiated the consent process after the Maharashtra government introduced a policy framework governing land acquisition, compensation mechanisms, and land allocation. Landowners have been invited to participate through a digital application process supported by Aadhaar details and land ownership documentation.
To encourage participation, the authority has offered multiple compensation options. These include direct monetary compensation through mutual agreement under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, compensation in the form of Floor Space Index (FSI) or Transferable Development Rights (TDR), and the option to receive 22.5% of the acquired land area back as developed plots within Uran, Panvel, or Pen talukas.
Officials have emphasised that the process is voluntary, stating that landowners who choose not to participate will not be forced to surrender their properties.
MMRDA has also clarified that environmentally sensitive zones, including mangrove areas, forests, and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) lands, will remain protected and excluded from development activities.
Planned as a mixed-use urban centre, Third Mumbai will feature residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional developments. Proposed infrastructure includes logistics hubs, data centre parks, office spaces, educational institutions, and housing projects supported by transit-oriented planning. With land acquisition gathering pace, the project has entered a crucial phase, bringing Maharashtra one step closer to creating a new urban growth centre beyond Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Source: Prop News Time
