Navi Mumbai, a new millenium city: challenges met and opportunities seized in its development

Rita Abbi, City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO)
Deepak Kapoor, City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO)

The development of a new city always poses challenges to planners and administrators when it has to be expanded within a fixed timeframe. Navi Mumbai is developed in a close proximity of Mumbai – the financial hub of India, is only 38 years old. The main purpose of creation of this satellite township was to ease pressure on Mumbai and to develop environmental friendly urban conglomeration which meets the social, residential, employment and commercial needs of the burgeoning population of metropolitan region. The present paper describes the impediments and challenges the government of Maharashtra had in coping up with unabated population growth, land assembly mechanism, development of needed infrastructure, housing, and construction of rail and road bridges on Thane creek to connect the city with the mainland. The study also highlights the hidden opportunities explored and grabbed. Navi Mumbai could be a role model for upcoming new cities in the world.