Tata Strategic Management Group and the Maharashtra Economic Development Council have been asked for a comprehensive study on repositioning Navi Mumbai as an economic growth centre. The report is expected by May.
They have been so tasked by City & Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), nodal agency for the development of Navi Mumbai international airport.
Navi Mumbai’s population is expected to be five million by 2025, with an annual per capita income of Rs 200,000 at current prices. At present, it is a 344 sq km area with two million people. The annual population growth rate between 1999-2000 and 2008-09 has been 20.1 per cent.
A Cidco official, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard: “Navi Mumbai through these four decades has gathered substantive economic mass, including demographic dimensions. It now awaits a leap into an accelerated growth plan. There are various mega projects — the air port, Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link, the special economic zone — in the pipeline. These will certainly transform the social and economic landscape of Navi Mumbai in the coming decade.”
However, he said, the development hadn’t been uniform, being more Vashi-centric and Belapur-centric (the two places being two nodes of the city). Further development of intra-city transport was vital.
The commissioned study is expected to look at new strategies and policies, as Navi Mumbai’s economic growth cannot depend upon the restraints imposed on growth in Mumbai as was the case in the 1970s. The city would have to establish its own competitive advantages, take advantage of available regional and local infrastructure, a competitive real estate market and skilled labour, and offer a better quality of life for citizens.
The Cidco official said clusters of some of the activities such as logistics and export of goods and services, taking advantage of proximity to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and the proposed international airport, would have to be promoted.
“In terms of economic growth sectors, Navi Mumbai may not be able to compete with Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur or Roha-Nagothane for large-scale manufacturing and their large agricultural hinterland. However, there would be scope for attracting and promoting small and medium enterprises.”
He noted there were threats. It was categorised as the 30th most critically polluted zone amongst industrial areas in the country by the Central Pollution Control Board in 2009. Threats from environmental shocks due to climate change and global warming affecting coastal areas, water shortage or flooding are not negligible. However, these can be tackled by strict implementation of environment protection laws and through planning, he said.
