Mumbai’s burgeoning population will be reduced by 1.8 million by 2041, as people will move to neighbouring satellite townships like Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar and Kalyan Dombivali. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has offered this view in its draft Regional Plan (2016-2036).
The MMRDA has also proposed in the draft Plan to increase the boundaries of four municipal corporations and three municipal councils, besides creation of one corporation and two councils in the satellite cities of neighbouring Mumbai.
Urban sprawl is observed in and around many cities and if timed and well-planned infrastructure is developed in these areas, they may provide an opportunity for urban extensions, the MMRDA said.
The Plan proposed that, “After studying the trends and the ongoing or committed regional infrastructure developments, it appears that there is a case for extending the boundaries for Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation (BNMC), Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC).”
It further said, “There is need of creating new Municipal Corporation of Ambernath-Badlapur and new municipal councils of Neral-Mamdapur and Rees Mohapada. It is also necessary to extend the boundaries of Karkat, Pen and Alibag municipal councils.” Urban planner and former chief town planner, MMRDA, V.K. Phatak who also played a key role in drafting Mumbai's new Development Plan 2014-2034, said, “It is a general phenomenon that the population growth rate in the city compared to that of its neighbouring satellite townships is increasing and it is not some unusual trend. It is one of the patterns that is happening countrywide in terms of metropolitan cities. However, to point specific reasons one has to look into the methodology of the projection done by the MMRDA.” As per the census of 2011, the population of Mumbai stands at 1.24 crore, which is projected to fall to 1.06 crore by 2041.
