Third Mumbai Renamed as Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, Honoring Three Villages in Raigad District
Third Mumbai Renamed as Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, Honoring Three Villages in Raigad District
Navi Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has officially renamed the area known as “Third Mumbai” as Karnala-Sai-Chirner New Town (KSC New Town) in honor of three villages in Raigad district. The new town, part of the larger Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA), aims to focus on eco-friendly development and enhanced connectivity.
The renaming emphasizes the cultural and geographical importance of the three villages: Karnala, known for the Karnala Bird Sanctuary and Karnala Fort; Sai, located in the Western Ghats and renowned for its natural beauty; and Chirner, strategically situated near Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), one of India’s largest container ports.
KSC New Town is set to span an area of 323.44 square kilometers and is designed to be an environment-friendly township with Smart City features. The city’s development is intended to regulate the growth of the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport and prevent haphazard expansion. The MMRDA has been designated as the New Town Development Authority (NTDA) for the region, responsible for overseeing its planning and development.
A significant development project connected to the region is the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), a 21.8 km long sea link that connects Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. The MTHL, built at a cost of ₹17,843 crore, is expected to boost the region’s economic growth by improving connectivity. In August 2023 alone, over 7.25 lakh vehicles used the bridge.
The Maharashtra government issued three notifications on October 15, 2023, confirming MMRDA’s role as NTDA. This move comes after MMRDA requested the state government to appoint it as NTDA for the MTHL Influence Area in order to make the project economically viable through land value enhancement.
The KSC New Town project involves 124 villages: 80 from NAINA, 33 from Khopta New Town Notified Area, 2 from the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Plan, and 9 from the Raigad Regional Plan. Following this development, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) will no longer serve as the Special Planning Authority for 33 villages in the Khopta New Town area. Additionally, the area surrounding Pen Municipal Council has been excluded from the new planning zones.
MMRDA will now prepare Detailed Planning Proposals, Development Control and Promotion Regulations, and has been authorized to acquire the necessary lands for the new town’s development.
