The Marve Coast in Malad West Will Have a 3427 Acre Enclave Similar to BKC Soon!!

Malad West - Mumbai 

This is surely exciting news for the Malad West real estate market, the residents of Malad west and all of Mumbai suburbs.

According to sources, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been designated the special planning authority for an area measuring a whopping 1,387 hectares (approximately 3,427 acres) situated along the western coast of Malad.

The MMRDA intends to construct a complex similar to the Bandra-Kurla Complex on this land. The coastal zone (CRZ-I) encompasses the land, which is a combination of portions from six villages: Aksa, Daravli, Erangal, Madh, Malvani, and Marve.

Ecologically sensitive zones (CRZ-I) comprise approximately 2,300 acres; however, 67% of the parcel, or 936 hectares, has been designated as a special development zone (SDZ) to facilitate socially-driven development.

The SDZ aims to promote affordable housing, public open spaces, and essential social infrastructure. In addition to amusement parks and tourism growth areas, SDZs may also facilitate the construction of film production facilities and institutions.

Development responsibility:

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been entrusted with the development of a vast 1,387-hectare land stretch. This decision, encompassing regions like Aksa, Daravli, Erangal, Madh, Malvani, and Marve, was made during an authority meeting, led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on December 12.

Positioned along Mumbai’s scenic coast, this land boasts immense commercial potential. Its value is further enhanced by its connectivity through Metro 2A (Dahisar to D N Nagar) and the proposed Coastal road. MMRDA, already a special planning authority for areas like BKC and Wadala, extends its reach with this new development. The recent addition of Kurla’s Mother Dairy land, Worli Dairy, and Ramabai Nagar under its purview is a strategic step to generate revenue for the agency, which is already committed to large-scale projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, including Metros, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, flyovers, and roads.

The Development Plan 2034, sanctioned in 2018, had outlined a vision for the Malad land, proposing it for affordable housing, public spaces, media production facilities, IT industry, amusement parks, and tourism development. However, this plan has met with concerns from activists and environmentalists.

Stalin Dayanand from NGO Vanashakti voiced that this area, traditionally a haven for public relaxation and recreation, should be preserved, rather than succumbing to construction activities. He suggested that other spaces in Mumbai could be developed instead, to protect the natural charm of the coastal area.

Activist Godfrey Pimenta acknowledged that while redevelopment of slums in Malvani by MMRDA is acceptable, they should refrain from encroaching upon eco-sensitive coastal zones. Echoing similar sentiments, Rishi Agarwal stressed the importance of preserving green spaces in Mumbai, once dubbed a concrete jungle, highlighting the city's growing need for environmental conservation.

A Malad resident, choosing to remain anonymous, questioned the rationale behind creating a concrete jungle in this part of Mumbai when alternative areas for development, such as clearing slum pockets, exist.

As the special planning authority, MMRDA's role will encompass the preparation of development plans for the designated areas, land sales for various purposes, and issuing development permissions and NoCs.

In a significant financial move, the MMRDA received state cabinet approval in July 2022 to secure loans amounting to Rs 60,000 crore. The initial phase involves borrowing Rs 12,000 crore, for which the government has agreed to act as a guarantor, aiming to fund extensive infrastructure projects within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.