 "Maha Govt mulls development of third city in Uran")
Maharashtra government, in a serious bid to de-congest Mumbai and Navi Mumbai, proposes the development of a third city in Uran taluka in Raigad district. As a beginning the government and the state-run Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority (MHADA) plans to develop infrastructure, acquire 100 hectare and create housing stock.
Uran, which is situated east of Mumbai across the Dharamtar Creek, is about 80 km away from Mumbai. It is connected by road and boat service. Uran is dominated by fishing. It also houses the Jawaharlal Nehru Port, two private ports, 672 MW gas based power project of state run MahaGenco. Further, ONGC has onshore terminal complex in Uran.
Maharashtra's minister of state for housing Sachin Ahir told Business Standard ''The proposed development of a third city in Uran is at the preliminary stage. This is being considered in view of the constraints faced by Mumbai and Navi Mumbai especially due to fast urbanization. MHADA will put in place the necessary infrastructure along with other government agencies and acquire 100 hectare to build houses on part of the acquired land. Thereafter, MHADA will explore an option of auctioning of remaining land to involve private sector.'' The state government and MHADA may spend Rs 100-150 crore while the total expenditure of Rs 1,000 crore is possible after private sector comes into the picture.
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Ahir said the government may cover the proposed city in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region so that state of the art transport infrastructure can be further strengthened. He however, admitted that the development of the Navi Mumbai international airport and the Nhava Sheva-Sewree, popularly known as Mumbai Trans Harbour Link will be quite crucial for the development of third city in Uran.
Tansukh Jain, leading architect from Uran shared Ahir's view saying that the the development of third city at Uran will take off only after the commencement of Navi Mumbai airport, implementation of Mumbai Trans Harbour Link and also launch of the much debated railway service between Mumbai and Uran. ''The development of transport infrastructure will give a boost to the realty sector in Uran and the adjoining areas,'' he noted.
Sunil Mantri, president, National Real Estate Development Council said development of third city in Uran taluka in the peripheral area of Mumbai is an innovative area. Considering the present scarcity of land in Mumbai and rising pressure on Navi Mumbai, development of an alternative city with world class infrastructure will attract many home buyers. This will help to create an affordable housing on a large scale,"Mantri said.
However, he emphasized the need for creation of world class infrastructure including roads, power, water, drainage and connectivity. ''The proposed satellite city will reduce pressure on Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Instead of the traditional auction route, the government should invite joint venture partner who will give the constructed area in lieu of land price and infrastructure,'' he added.
On the other hand, Anand Bhingarde, general secretary, Uran Education Society said the development of third city will attract investments in realty sector, education and social sectors in addition to shipping and logistics. ''The government's move will completely change the economy of the area and thereby Uran will gain a new identity in the global map,'' he added.
SATELLITE CITY URAN
* Uran is covered by sea by three side
*It houses JNPT, shipping, logistics industries and ONGC's plant
*Reality sector sees huge opportunity in view of its proximity to Mumbai
*However, development of Navi Mumbai airport, trans harbour link are key
* Mumbai is India's largest city (by population) and is the financial and commercial capital of the country
*Navi Mumbai, which is a planned township in Mumbai on the west coast, was developed in 1972 as a new urban township of Mumbai, and is the largest planned city in the world. By the end of the 1990s, the planning authority of Navi Mumbai initiated private participation in the developmental activity