MMRDA’s big vision: Rebooting city, creating ‘Mumbai in minutes’

Mumbai: At the MMRDA presents Maharashtra Infrastructure Conclave in association with The Times of India, metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA Sanjay Mukherjee outlined an ambitious vision for transforming the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Mukherjee said the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is guided by three core principles: Rebooting Mumbai, reshaping the surrounding metropolitan area, and achieving the ambitious goal of ‘Mumbai in Minutes'. He acknowledged the the city's established status as India's financial capital and a global city while emphasising that certain elements of its infrastructure must evolve with time to maintain this standing.

"Mumbai has developed immensely, but it needs to be rebooted to accommodate its changing needs," Mukherjee said. He elaborated on reshaping MMR, stating the agency's objective is not only to develop world-class infrastructure, but also to ensure that it resonates with local communities.

One of the most significant initiatives Mukherjee outlined was the ‘Mumbai in Minutes' project. "The idea is to guarantee that no matter where you are travelling from within the city, it should take no longer than 59 minutes," said Mukherjee. He acknowledged the city's traffic woes, but stressed that ongoing infrastructure development, particularly the Metro and new road networks, will help achieve this goal.

Mukherjee highlighted MMRDA's efforts in building one of the world's largest Metro networks, with 337km of Metro lines under construction, which will eventually expand to over 450km.

MMRDA is also developing a vast network of roads, including new coastal roads, elevated corridors, and tunnels that will integrate seamlessly with existing and future transport infrastructure. Mukherjee described a planned "ring road" network that will connect the eastern and western corridors of the city. Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link and coastal roads are expected to drastically reduce travel times too.

Mukherjee said MMRDA has also been designated as a Special Planning Authority for 1,250 square km outside of the MMR. He said MMRDA has partnered with global organisations, including a direct collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), making it the only parastatal agency with such an agreement. "Our collaboration with WEF will facilitate not only investment but also critical technology transfer, which is key to realising our vision of a sustainable, trillion-dollar economy for the region," he said. He emphasised the importance of sustainability in all projects, aligning with India's goal of achieving net-zero emissions. He concluded by reiterating MMRDA's role in creating an inclusive and efficient urban environment, where residents can enjoy seamless connectivity, sustainable living, and ample opportunities for growth.