Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde shared his vision for the city’s growth, its growing population, and plans to improve quality of life. Siddhant Konduskar. Focusing on infrastructure, stability, and governance, Dr. Shinde outlines key initiatives that aim to enhance Navi Mumbai’s livability and readiness for future challenges.
Navi Mumbai is known for its planned infrastructure. What is your main priority for the development of the city?
Navi Mumbai is a well-planned city with good roads and cleanliness. My focus is to enhance connectivity through infrastructure projects that will make the city more accessible and convenient. Upcoming projects like Airoli-Ghansoli bridge and Turbe-Kharghar tunnel will improve accessibility and facilitate transportation. We are also adding a new line to the Thane Creek Bridge at Vashi to improve entry and exit points.
The population of New Mumbai is increasing. How do you plan to address this increase?
Currently, the population is 1.8 million and it is expected to reach 2.3 million by 2028. We are gearing up with improved road network, expanded metro lines, and expanded suburban rail connectivity. Water supply is another concern, but the Bhira Dam project will ensure steady supply of drinking water. We are also equipped with a 450 million liter sewage treatment plant to handle future challenges.
Apart from the road network, what other infrastructure projects are in the pipeline?
Apart from transport, health and education are the main focus areas. We have three 600-bed hospitals, with a fourth under development. We also have urban primary health centers, mother-child care units, and reproductive healthcare facilities across the city. In education, we are working on PG Medical College in Nerul and converted three municipal schools to CBSE. With the help of Pratham Foundation, we aim to bring public education at par with private institutions.
Navi Mumbai is known for its quality of life. How do you plan to improve it further?
Living is a priority. We are building an Olympic size sports complex within four years. There are plans for museums, cultural centers, open theaters, and more entertainment spaces. We have a robust transportation network with NMMT buses, EV charging stations, and round-the-clock water supply. By 2030, my goal is to make Navi Mumbai slum-free through large-scale cluster development initiatives.
Infrastructure often affects the environment. How is New Mumbai addressing this?
Navi Mumbai currently has 34% green cover, and we aim to maintain and expand this. We have 15 lakh trees, and we focus on planting indigenous species like mango, neem and tamarind, which contribute to the ecosystem. While infrastructure projects may require some tree cutting, especially for roads, we ensure compensation and always try to find alternatives to minimize environmental impact.
How are you ensuring transparency in governance at NMMC?
We have introduced e-office system to streamline operations in all NMMC departments. By digitizing files, we ensure faster approvals, better tracking, and less chances of misplacement. A dedicated computer room will support this transition. Additionally, we are moving civic services online to reduce physical visits, improving convenience for residents of Navi Mumbai.