Navi Mumbai: The Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde has given final approval to the long-awaited development plan of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), which had been pending state approval for several months. This development plan is crucial for the future of the city's wetlands, green belts, and various reserved plots.
The reservations on over 30 plots by the municipal corporation faced non-acceptance by CIDCO, leading to disputes between the two entities regarding the development plan. The city, which has faced a stalled development plan for 33 years, had its plan prepared by the NMMC Planning Department, which aimed to allocate some CIDCO vacant plots for social welfare, although this also led to potential conflict between CIDCO and the municipality.
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The development plan for the 110 square kilometer area had not been updated in over three decades, a lapse attributed to political and administrative shortcomings. Unlike common practices where municipalities create development plans in the first twenty years, this was delayed, but under the leadership of then-Commissioner Dr. Ramaswamy, the planning responsibility was assigned to the municipality’s planning department rather than a private organisation.
The development plan incorporated comprehensive studies from similar planned cities and was updated to consider land requirements until 2038 for various civic facilities, parks, entertainment zones, and alternative routes.
The draft plan from August 10, 2022, faced 16,194 objections, prompting revisions before a report to the Municipal Commissioner on February 16, 2024. Initial reservations numbered 625 but were trimmed to 537 with changes to 88.
The Urban Development Department's approval indicates forthcoming details on development. Controversy arose from the municipal corporation’s move to change wetland reservations to residential use along Palm Beach Road, as well as in Adawali and Bhutawali. Attention is focused on clarifications regarding the approved plans and potential significant changes soon.
