Young successful Navi Mumbai on the threshold of the next unprecedented leap – Bhupendra Shah

Bhumiraj Group CMD says older cities are behind due to policies, state of the art infrastructure and life quality of Navi Mumbai

Still in its youth, Navi Mumbai, which has witnessed the development of just 30 years, is a bundle of progress, opportunities and quality life that no other city in the existence of over 100 years can match. It is now or never for those who are still not to join this journey of success, believes Bhupendra Shah, the chairman and managing director of Bhumiraj Group.

The ever-positive on Navi Mumbai, Shah, declares that Navi Mumbai has outpaced neighbouring cities like Mumbai and Thane, which have been in existence for hundreds of years. Shah credits CIDCO's well-planned policies, world-class infrastructure, and the arrival of a qualified workforce for a life of quality here, which offers galore opportunities due to the region's unmatched development.

Chairman Trustee Board of Builders Association of Navi Mumbai (BANM), Shah, who understands the region well, explains the factors that have taken Navi Mumbai to dizzy heights in the last three decades of its development.

According to Shah, "There is not much difference between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai geographically. Both have coastal belts and also hilly regions. The huge difference is in the basic infrastructure planning that CIDCO undertook at the time of initial development; the drainage, stormwater drains, inspired holding ponds, open spaces, greenery was developed; social facilities, places of worship etc. were offered at concessional rates. Connectivity was taken up by the creek bridge that ensured coming to the supposedly far off city was a smooth drive."

Informs Bhupendra Shah, "The coming of the wholesale APMC markets along with the steel market here was facilitated through incentives for residence and workplace for the stakeholders by CIDCO. The idea of Palm Beach road and NRI complex, along with around 15 major projects, took shape during the time of former CIDCO MD R C Sinha. Central Park, two golf courses, IT Park, Science Centre, Exhibition & Convention centre and of course the international airport project was all planned then."

He states the other major factors: "JNPT, a major project of the central government promoted by all prime ministers, proved to be a major catalyst for development. The introduction of railways provided a new lifeline with connectivity further improved for the masses. Road travel became faster with the expansion of the Sion Panvel highway to 16 lanes and connected to the Mumbai Pune expressway. The region now has a whopping 12 jetties, with RORO service expected to start very soon. The first aeroplane is expected to land in the proposed Navi Mumbai international airport project in 2024, and Navi Mumbai will be closer to Mumbai with the MTHL becoming a reality soon."

On the educational front, Shah says, "The city is buzzing with highly intellectual citizens, and top educational institutions are addressing natural education needs while ivy colleges along with other global universities are making their presence in the region a reality."

Housing, an important factor, has been taken care of. Says Shah, "Housing for all has been CIDCO motto, and it has done well to ensure that it has become a reality. There are houses for every stratum of society. Its emphasis on providing affordable housing through the construction of 2 lakh houses is a big decision making a huge difference. There are also the likes of L&T with its Seawoods Integrated Complex and Godrej that are getting increasingly involved in Navi Mumbai."

On the future of Navi Mumbai that he foresees, Bhupendra Shah says, "Mega projects worth Rs 1,40,000 cr have been planned and are being implemented here. With Reliance SEZ, Corporate Park, JNPT expansion, airport, and so many such projects, the job opportunities will be for over 25 lakh people. The numbers are mindblowing."

That is not all. Says Shah, "It is now for CIDCO to gets its NAINA policy right to ensure horizontal development in the region to bring opportunities along with manpower."

Signs off Shah, "If you are looking for a bright future for yourself and your children, Navi Mumbai it is. The city is on the threshold of a developmental leap that will take it where no other city in the country has witnessed. Those who still do not understand this and hence haven't come need to rethink now or else regret later."