Navi Mumbai
Encyclopedia
Navi Mumbai is a Planned Satellite City on the west coast of the India
n state of Maharashtra
. It was developed in 1972 as a twin city of Mumbai
, and is the largest planned city
on the planet, with 163 square kilometres (62.9 sq mi) under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC)
and a total area of 344 square kilometres (132.8 sq mi). Navi Mumbai lies on the mainland on the eastern shore of Thane Creek
. The city limits stretch from Airoli
near Thane
in the north, to Uran
in the south. The length of the city is almost the same as that of Mumbai. The Vashi
and the Airoli Bridge
s connect Navi Mumbai to Mumbai. A new link between Nerul
and Uran is under construction. The costliest real estate and most highly developed areas of Navi Mumbai are Vashi
and Nerul
, while Kharghar
and Panvel
are experiencing major infrastructural developments due to their proximity to the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport
. Vashi
is known as the king of Navi Mumbai while Nerul
is called the queen of Navi Mumbai. Navi Mumbai has a population of 2,600,000 of which approximately 800,000 live in Nerul
and about 700,000 in Vashi
, with the remainder residing in Belapur
, Kharghar
, Sanpada
, Airoli
, Ghansoli
, Kopar Khairane
and surrounding areas.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
, the public body that manages the city's affairs, is rated amongst the richest corporations in Asia.
It was initially planned with a specific purpose: to decongest Mumbai and become an alternative haven for the multitudes that throng to Mumbai from all over India.
South Navi Mumbai is being developed rapidly with its class infrastructure and modern nodes of Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel and Kalamboli.
The Barve Group's recommendations were accepted by the Government of Maharashtra
in July 1964. In March 1965, a new committee chaired by Prof. D.R. Gadgil, then Director of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
, was asked to form broad principles of regional planning. The Gadgil Committee strongly recommended a new town be constructed across the harbour.
In March 1966, the Gadgil Committee recommended regional planning legislation and regional planning boards. In January 1967, the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act 1966 was passed. July 1967 saw the constitution of Mumbai Metropolitan and Regional Planning Board under the chairmanship of ICS officer L.G. Rajwade. The committee published the Draft Plan with recommendations to set up a new metro centre of Navi Mumbai across the creek. This proposal was accepted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation as a new twin city designed within the Mumbai Metropolitan region to facilitate the decongestion of Mumbai.
The City and Industrial Development Corporation
(CIDCO) was formed on 17 March 1971, under the Indian Companies Act, 1956. It was given the mandate of converting about 344 square kilometres (132.8 sq mi) of marshy land lying between the village of Dighe in Thane district and the village of Kalundre of Raigad district into a new city. The area covered 150 kilometres (93.2 mi) of the total 720 kilometres (447.4 mi) of the Konkan coast. The villagers of the area lived a calm life much different from the life in the neighbouring city of Mumbai. Privately owned land conisisting of 86 villages covering 15954 hectares (39,423.2 acre) within the present limits of Navi Mumbai and further villages measuring an additional 2870 hectares (7,091.9 acre) were acquired by the government of Maharashtra.
CIDCO carved out 14 nodes—small townships—with a view towards facilitating comprehensive development. These nodes are named Airoli
, Ghansoli
, Kopar Khairane
, Vashi
, Sanpada
, Nerul
, CBD Belapur
, Kharghar
, Kamothe
, New Panvel, Kalamboli
, Ulwe, Pushpak, and Dronagiri
. CIDCO acquired 193.94 square kilometres (74.9 sq mi) of land, of which 141.05 square kilometres (54.5 sq mi) was private land, 22.92 square kilometres (8.8 sq mi) salt-pan
land and 52.89 square kilometres (20.4 sq mi) government land. By 2000 CIDCO had developed about 117.6 square kilometres (45.4 sq mi) of land. Of this land, 54.45 square kilometres (21 sq mi) is saleable under various land uses. CIDCO has sold about 21.9 square kilometres (8.5 sq mi) leaving a balance land for sale about 32.58 square kilometres (12.6 sq mi) under various land uses.
CIDCO planned and constructed all the railway stations in Navi Mumbai and developed nearby areas commercially.
In 1973 the Thane Creek Road Bridge, Vashi Bridge
, was opened to the public for residents of Vashi, Belapur and Nerul. The Sion Panvel Expressway
was built to reduce the time taken to travel from Sion to Panvel. Initially there was not much response to the new city. Major changes took place only after 1990, with the commissioning of a wholesale agricultural produce market at Vashi and the construction of a commuter railway line from Mankhurd to Vashi in May 1992. These developments caused a sudden growth in economic activities and population in Navi Mumbai.
Some of the older and more populated nodes are Vashi, Nerul and Belapur. Some of the more recently developed nodes include Kharghar, Kamothe, Koperkhairane and New Panvel.
The 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) long Airoli Bridge
was built over the Thane Creek between Airoli
and Mulund, an eastern suburb of Mumbai.
was the only authority that looked after the development and maintenance of the city. CIDCO prepared a developmental plan for Navi Mumbai covering 95 villages from Thane
and Raigad district
.
For the first ten years of the project CIDCO acted as the planning and administrative body, as well as the developer and builder for the project. Taxes on property, land, commercial, and water were payable to CIDCO. The 14 nodes which CIDCO created were named Airoli, Ghansoli, Kopar Khairane, Vashi, Sanpada, Nerul, CBD Belapur, Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel, Kalamboli, Ulwe, Pushpak and Dronagiri. Each of the nodes is divided into smaller groups called sectors, which are numbered.
Initially only Vashi, Nerul, CBD Belapur, and Airoli were developed by CIDCO with housing, schools, and community centre roads. But after the arrival of the Harbour Line extension in 1990s, there was an increase in population. CIDCO shifted its development plan to nodes like Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel and Kopar Khairane. In its new development plan, CIDCO land was allocated to builders for housing. CIDCO only provided basic infrastructure like roads, water, and electricity; these nodes were developed mostly by private builders according to the CIDCO plan.
(NMMC) was constituted by the State Government for maintaining some of the developed nodes of Navi Mumbai.
Local self-government started on 1 January 1992. NMMC was handed nine of the 25 nodes of the Navi Mumbai project area for its jurisdiction. However, CIDCO, as a Planning Authority, has rights on the open plots in these five nodes.
The nine nodes maintained by NMMC are Belapur, Nerul, Vashi, Turbhe, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli, Airoli, Digha, and Sanpada as of 1 January 1998, with the physical and social infrastructure already in place.
The municipal corporation is headed by a municipal commissioner and an elected mayor. There are 64 electoral wards in Navi Mumbai. A corporator is elected in each of the wards. All the nodes under the municipal corporation come under Thane District.
The newly developed nodes of Navi Mumbai on the south side like Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel, and Kalamboli are still maintained by CIDCO. These nodes, which are all beyond Belapur, come under the Raigad District
and are under the jurisdiction of the Panvel Municipal Council.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport
Undertaking or NMMT Undertaking is the local transport service operated by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation in the city of Navi Mumbai and adjoining areas of Dombivli
, Badlapur
, Uran
, Panvel
, Thane
, Kalyan and Mulund.
Seawoods
(NCP). The NCP holds 55 seats in the NMMC and holds all of the MP and MLA seats. The Shiv Sena
-BJP holds the second largest position in the corporation with a combined total of 17 seats. The Indian National Congress
party has 13 seats in the corporation. Other parties like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
, Samajwadi Party
, Bahujan Samaj Party
, Republican Party of India (Athvale)
, Janata Dal (Secular)
, and other parties contest elections but presently hold no seats.
Organisations like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
and Bajrang Dal
are also present here but are not active in politics.
Some of the major politicians from Navi Mumbai are Excise Minister Ganesh Naik
, MP Sanjeev Naik
, MLA Sandeep Naik
, BJP Leader Suresh Haware, Shiv Sena Chief Vijay Chougule and first lady mayor shiv sena women's chief sushma dande.
Navi Mumbai spreads over parts of two districts of Maharashtra
: Thane
and Raigad
. The region is hilly in some parts, and certain areas of the region are protected wetland
s. Unlike its bigger neighbour, the city is sparsely populated.
Its coordinates are between Latitude 19.5’ and 19.15’, Longitude 72.55’ and 73.5’.
. The narrow belt of land starts at Dighe in the north and ends at Kalundre
in the south. It is 25.6 square kilometres (9.9 sq mi) in area, 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) long and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide.
To part of Western Konkan coast is a narrow coastal strip along the western part of Sahyadris. It is bound on the East side by hillocks of 50 to 200 m height and on the west side by Thane creek
.
The rock formations in the region are derived mainly from Deccan Basalt and from granite
s, gneiss
and laterite
. The gently sloping coastal low lands are observed in patches and are covered with moderately shallow to deep soils, mostly lateritic in nature, sometimes oxidised to yellow marrum.
The soils of the region are high in saline in the vicinity of creeks with lower saline at other places. They are calcareous
, neutral to alkaline in reaction (pH 7.5 to 8.5), often contain clay, with a high amount of bases and high water holding capacity (200–250 mm/m). The soils located on moderately sloping residual hills are lateritic in nature and show intensively leached surfaces. They are loamy and slight to moderately acidic (pH 5-6.5) with moderate base status (< 75%).
during the rainy season. Some mango and coconut orchards and limited vegetable cultivation was also practised by locals. Those with good irrigation facilities would choose to cultivate legumes like Tur and bean
s. With urbanisation, almost all agricultural
activities in Navi Mumbai have ceased to exist, except in the easternmost part.
Fish, crabs, and prawns were common products from the creek, though the quantities of each were not significant. Surplus from domestic consumption was sold in Thane
and Belapur
markets. With the advent of industries in the region, and with consequent deterioration of water quality, these markets were lost.
on the Belapur Industry Association (TBIA) premises which collects meteorological data daily. Under the Koppen climate classification
, the city has a tropical monsoon climate
that borders on a tropical wet and dry climate. Overall climate is equable with high rainfall days and very few days of extreme temperatures.
Navi Mumbai temperature varies from 22°C to 36°C. In winter temperature is between 12°C to 20°C while summer temperature ranges from 36°C to 41°C. Out of total rainfall, 80% rainfall is experienced during June to October. Average annual rainfall is 2000–2500 mm and humidity is 61-86 %, making it a humid-perhumid zone. The driest days are in winter while the wettest days are experienced in July.
According to the IMD, the predominant wind direction is southwest in monsoon and north-east during rest of the year.
, Navi Mumbai had a population of 703,947. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Navi Mumbai has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 67%. In Navi Mumbai, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age, with 28% in the age group of up to 15 years, 55% in the age group of 15-44 year bracket and 13% aged 45–59. Average family size is 4.05 persons, compared to Mumbai's average of 4.85.
67% of families living in Navi Mumbai own their homes and of the working population, 63.5% are employed within the city.
A 2000 survey done by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences
revealed that 43% of the families currently settled in Navi Mumbai migrated from Mumbai. This percentage has gone up since then. The survey found that the literacy rate in the city was 96%, that 32% of the total population was working, 67% own their houses and 46% own vehicles. As of 2008 the estimated population is 2,600,000, and Nerul
and Vashi
are the most populated nodes of the city.
Nerul is the most populated area of Navi Mumbai, with an estimated population of 800,000, followed by Vashi, which has an estimated population of 700,000.
Kharghar Node in Navi Mumbai has witnessed the highest population growth in 2010 census compared to 2001 census, which is little more than 1000%
The average monthly family income in Navi Mumbai is 9549/month, compared to 5000/month in Mumbai. Vashi has the highest monthly income at 12,349/month, followed by Nerul, at 11,998/month.
Navi Mumbai is a cosmopolitan city and people of different religions live together amicably. The majority of the population is Hindu (86%), followed by Muslims (10%) having praying Mosque in every node, and there are Christian and Sikh populations. The best example of this is in Brahmagiri
, where CIDCO had in a planned way allotted plots to religious activities atop a hill near the west side of the Nerul
Railway Station. This area houses a Balaji Temple, a Swaminarayan Temple Complex, a Mata Amirtandamayi Temple Complex, a Narayanaguru Temple Complex, the Little Flower Church and the Epworth Methodist Tamil Church. All these religious institutions are well patronised by people not only from Navi Mumbai but also from Mumbai.
Inside the South Indian Education Society complex at Nerul, close to Mumbai-Pune Expressway
, there is a Anjaneyar (Lord Hanuman
) Temple, a Kamakshi Amman Temple
and an Adhisankarar Mandap Temple. The Anjaneyar idol is 10 metres in height and is installed on a pedestal that is 3.6 metres high. It is made of a single granite stone.
In line with the fast growing population of the Navi Mumbai, the city has now a vast number of religious place for worship, fellowship, and service. Various temples have been built in Kharghar. Churches of various denominations has started regular services at various nodes. List of churches in Navi Mumbai has been undertaken in wikipedia. Various cultural events are being organised by the respective associations and religions to commemorate festivals and events.
and Koli
population. Marathi
is extensively spoken in most of Navi Mumbai. Business in the municipal corporation is also transacted in Marathi. A common language spoken on the city streets is Mumbaiya Hindi or Bambaiya Hindi
—a blend of Hindi
, Urdu
, and Marathi
, with some invented colloquial words. English
is extensively spoken and is the working language of the city's white collar
workforce.
Colleges, two Medical Colleges, three Architectural colleges and a National Institute of Fashion Technology(NIFT). There are 128 primary schools, 80 secondary schools, and 25 colleges in the NMMC area. Navi Mumbai has become self sufficient in higher education facilities—only 4% students go to Mumbai for higher studies.
The most common forms of transportation in Navi Mumbai
are the red NMMT buses and suburban trains
. NMMT buses are similar to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
buses except that they are operated by NMMC. Auto rickshaw
s and Taxis
are popular modes of transport. With the Mulund-Airoli
link, currently the fastest route to central is via NMMT or the BEST buses to Mulund.
Within each node, the auto rickshaw is the preferred mode of transportation. Yellow and Black taxicabs operating from designated taxi stands provide the means to travel further to destinations such as Mumbai and Thane. Taxis charge a fixed rate approved by the Regional Transport Office
.
The Mumbai Suburban Railway
network covers most of the populated region of the city. The most important external railway stations are Vashi
, Belapur
and Panvel
. Nerul
will be an important external railway station when the Thane-Nerul-Uran link starts. The stations are planned as a major railway junction. Most trains plying on the Konkan Railway
stop at Panvel
so that those passengers destined to reach Mumbai
may get the local trains. These trains bypass the island city altogether. Future plans include linking the station to Pune
via Karjat
to cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune.
The Thane-Vashi corridor on the Harbour Line of the Central Railway was commissioned on 9 November 2004. The trains ply along an 18.5 km route through Vashi
, Sanpada
, Turbhe
, Kopar Khairane
, Ghansoli
, Rabale
and Airoli
, to Thane
. Work is underway to lay an additional pair of tracks between Thane and Kurla
- the 5th and 6th corridor for a ring railway route: Thane-Kurla-Vashi-Thane. The new broad Gauge
Harbour Line is functional between Karjat
and Panvel
.
BEST buses of the 500 series travel between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. For example, BEST route 505 starts from the CBD of Navi Mumbai and ends at Bandra in Mumbai, and vice versa. Others routes such as 506, 507, 511, 512 take commuters from Nerul in Navi Mumbai to Mumbai and back. NMMT and BEST AC buses are both available to people of Navi Mumbai.
The 10 km long Palm Beach Marg
(Marg translates to Road in Marathi
) is a six-lane state-of-the-art road that connects Vashi to CBD-Belapur running parallel to the Thane creek. It is a twin of the Marine Drive.
There is growing demand for a new bridge over the Thane Creek from Kopar Khairane
to Kannamwar Nagar in Vikroli, Mumbai off the eastern express highway so as to connect the eastern suburbs of Mumbai. This will establish a much desired third bridge linking Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Navi Mumbai boasts the most advanced port in India, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, at Nhava Sheva
near Uran
. It is well connected with road and railways, and handles approximately 65% of India's container traffic.
Navi Mumbai is located 30 km away from Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport
which currently acts as the International Airport for the city, but things will change up soon when the Navi Mumbai International Airport
will be ready for use.
area, will be built through public-private partnership (PPP), with private sector partners having 74% equity and the Airports Authority of India (AAI)
and Government of Maharashtra
(through City and Industrial Development Corporation or CIDCO) each holding 13%.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
has already given techno-feasibility clearance to the airport. The central government provided cabinet approval for the construction on 31 May 2007. Specialised consultants were appointed and the global tendering process is underway. The government authorities are still planning the land acquisition.
service from Vashi
to Colaba
and the CBD to Colaba did not succeed due to the high cost of tickets and maintenance. Cidco is planning to relaunch its hovercraft service from Vashi, Belapur
, Nerul
, and Airoli
to Gateway of India.
and Inorbit Mall
. Palm Beach Road, Nerul, and Kharghar are also witnessing the construction of malls and multiplexes. Throughout Navi Mumbai supermarkets and malls like Apnaa Bazaar, More, Spencer's, Reliance Fresh, Spinach and Fairprice cater to the shopping needs of the residents. DMart has launched five hypermalls in Navi Mumbai.
Leading banks such as the State Bank of India
, Union Bank
, Saraswat Bank
, Bank of Baroda
, Bank of Maharashtra
, Bank of Hyderabad, Citibank India
, ICICI Bank
, and HDFC Bank
have their branches and ATMs around Navi Mumbai. The Reserve Bank of India
has served the people of Navi Mumbai since 2001.
Navi Mumbai has very few three- and five-star hotels. However, with the completion of the Navi Mumbai International Airport by 2012, nodes like Nerul, Panvel, Kharghar, and CBD Belapur are expected to get several five-star luxury hotels.
Most of the software companies in Maharashtra
have their offices in Navi Mumbai. The government of Maharashtra has set up software parks to cater to the growing demand. Many large institutions have their offices here. Since 2005, The Reliance
group of industries have had a major presence, and DAKC in Kopar Khairane
and Mahape
. Other prominent companies include CORE Projects & Technologies Ltd, Hexaware Technologies
, Mastek
, Enser Communications, Patni Computer Systems
, Intellenet, Hewitt Associates
, TCS
, Digit magazine
, V2Solutions, IRIS Business Services Private Limited, Indiagames, and Carwale
. Most of them are located in an area called the Millenium Business Park in Mahape. As a part of long-term planning, major commodity markets have begun moving from the heart of Mumbai city to Navi Mumbai. Kalamboli
(a node in Navi Mumbai) is home to a major steel market.
Vashi
has the fresh fruits and vegetables market. One of the important business landmarks is the shipping port of Jawaharlal Nehru Port in the Nhava Sheva
- Dronagiri
nodes. The major business hubs in the City are CBD Belapur, Vashi, Nerul and Mahape.
The International Infotech Park at Vashi and Belapur railway station complex houses many international IT
companies. The New Millennium City near Mahape forms a major part of the Knowledge Corridor that spans Mumbai and Pune. The head office of Reliance Infocom - Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City is situated opposite the Koparkhairane station. Other IT companies in Navi Mumbai include L&T Infotech, Wipro Ltd, CMC, Tata Consultancy Services, Aptech, Track Mail, ICICI Infotech and PCS, whose offices are on Thane Belapur Road.
The Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) located in the nodes of Dronagiri and Kalamboli are planned to provide commercial growth and employment to the city. Positioned enroute the proposed Navi Mumbai Airport, this mega project has attracted investments of close to 40,000 crores.
Marathon Group has launched the development of its mini SEZ called NexZone near the site of the proposed airport. This mini SEZ will be specially for the IT/ITES industry and will be an integrated township of residential and commercial buildings, entertainment mall and education institutes. Honda SEIL's Headquarters is located in Nerul
MIDC.
There are very few police chowkies throughout Navi Mumbai with virtually non existent beat chowkies and traffic police. Criminal activities in Navi Mumbai include chain snatching, pickpocketing, cellphone snatching. These crimes are mainly confined to sparsely populated areas. Navi Mumbai has witnessed several vehicle thefts
and burglaries
involving unoccupied houses. Murder and armed robbery take place in significant numbers. Riots and community feuds take place, especially in the Ghansoli area. There have been several instances where mobs of frustrated native villagers have beaten innocent law abiding residents. Nerul is especially plagued by robbery. The number of accidents on the Palm Beach Road caused by are growing at an alarming pace due to non existent traffic police or security cameras. The absence of street lights on the highway between Belapur and Kharghar poses a continued danger to motorists.
Shops and housing colonies often hire private security guards, as the police force is often overstretched. Businesses are expected to shut shop by 10pm. The Mumbai underworld has begun to take notice of the city, targeting the increasingly thriving businesses of cable operators, builders and real estate developers for extortion
. On the whole, crime in Navi Mumbai is much less than in Mumbai.
Cricket
is the prevalent sport in the city. Navi Mumbai has its own International Cricket Ground in Nerul
called the DY Patil Stadium
which hosted 3 IPL T-20 matches and the IPL T-20 Cricket Final. It is said that this stadium is one of the best in India. Football
is the second most popular sport with the city clubs playing during the monsoons, when other outdoor sports cannot be played. The FIFA World Cup
is one of the most widely watched television events in Mumbai. India's national sport, field hockey
, has gone into a sharp decline in the recent years, losing out in terms of popularity to cricket, though many Mumbai players play on the national team.
Navi Mumbai has an olympic size swimming pool at Nerul. CIDCO has proposed two 18 hole golf course academies at Nerul and Kharghar. There are plans to have sports facilities in the proposed 80 hectare Central park being developed in Kharghar. The park is expected to open in mid 2010.
The Navi Mumbai Olympics is held every year. The 2008 Olympics had 12 sports and more than 3500 participants. It was won by Vashi Vikings while the runners up were the Nerul Ninjas. The other teams which take part in these Olympics are the KoparKhairane Kings, the Airoli Aces, the Panvel Patriots, the Belapur Blazers, the Kalamboli Knockouts and the Kharghar Knights.
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India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. It was developed in 1972 as a twin city of Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, and is the largest planned city
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
on the planet, with 163 square kilometres (62.9 sq mi) under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC)
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is the municipal organisation of Mumbai's satellite town Navi Mumbai. On 17 December 1991 NMMC was constituted by the State Government for catering to the requirements of 29 villages in CIDCO Navi Mumbai project and 15 villages from Kalyan. The local...
and a total area of 344 square kilometres (132.8 sq mi). Navi Mumbai lies on the mainland on the eastern shore of Thane Creek
Thane Creek
Thane Creek is part of the estuary of the Ulhas River in western India opening into Mumbai Harbour. It comprises the area stretching from Mumbra Retibunder to the Mankhurd-Vashi Bridge. It has been recognised as an Important Bird Area by the Bombay Natural History Society, as it is home to...
. The city limits stretch from Airoli
Airoli
Airoli is the fifth most developed residential suburb of Navi Mumbai. It is connected to Navi Mumbai's most developed neighborhoods, Vashi and Nerul with city bus and local train services...
near Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
in the north, to Uran
Uran
Uran is part of the Navi Mumbai city township lying in the Raigad district near Panvel and Karjat. It is situated east of Mumbai across the Dharamtar Creek, and is primarily a fishing village, which has developed into a special economy zone. Even famous for its salt pans later after the revolt by...
in the south. The length of the city is almost the same as that of Mumbai. The Vashi
Vashi Bridge
The Vashi Bridge, , is a bridge, built across the Thane Creek that connects the city of Mumbai to the Indian mainland at Navi Mumbai. The bridge links the suburb of Mankhurd in Mumbai with Vashi in Navi Mumbai, the satellite city of Mumbai...
and the Airoli Bridge
Airoli Bridge
Airoli Bridge is a bridge in the Mumbai metropolitan area of India. It was constructed to establish a direct road link between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.Constructed By AFCONS,A Mumbai based Firm and Project Executed by Subodh V...
s connect Navi Mumbai to Mumbai. A new link between Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
and Uran is under construction. The costliest real estate and most highly developed areas of Navi Mumbai are Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
and Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
, while Kharghar
Kharghar
Kharghar is a node of Navi Mumbai, conceived and constructed by CIDCO. It is developed and maintained by CIDCO. Kharghar is located on the Mumbai-Pune highway at a less-than-one hour drive from the heart of Mumbai city. The Area started developing in 1995 and now it has of number of ready and...
and Panvel
Panvel
Panvel is city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the state of Maharashtra. Panvel is also known as the gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. Panvel is located on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway about 21 kilometres from...
are experiencing major infrastructural developments due to their proximity to the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport
Navi Mumbai International Airport
The proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport is a new international airport, which is to come up at Kopra-Panvel area, is being built through public-private partnership — with private sector partner getting 74% equity while Airports Authority of India and Govt of Maharashtra holding 13% each...
. Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
is known as the king of Navi Mumbai while Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
is called the queen of Navi Mumbai. Navi Mumbai has a population of 2,600,000 of which approximately 800,000 live in Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
and about 700,000 in Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
, with the remainder residing in Belapur
CBD Belapur
CBD Belapur is the third most developed node of Navi Mumbai after Vashi and Nerul. CBD Belapur has a fairly vibrant Central Business District that is moving some of the economy out of congested central Mumbai into the hinterland. Belapur is also one of the largest assembly constituencies from this...
, Kharghar
Kharghar
Kharghar is a node of Navi Mumbai, conceived and constructed by CIDCO. It is developed and maintained by CIDCO. Kharghar is located on the Mumbai-Pune highway at a less-than-one hour drive from the heart of Mumbai city. The Area started developing in 1995 and now it has of number of ready and...
, Sanpada
Sanpada
Sanpada is a residential node that has been developed by CIDCO since the late 1980s. It has expanded considerably with new building projects springing up every other day. In fact Sanpada is becoming the next ideal residential hub with malls and major amnesties establishing in close vicinity to...
, Airoli
Airoli
Airoli is the fifth most developed residential suburb of Navi Mumbai. It is connected to Navi Mumbai's most developed neighborhoods, Vashi and Nerul with city bus and local train services...
, Ghansoli
Ghansoli
Ghansoli ,is one of the nodes of Navi Mumbai, comprising approximate 3000 flats developed by CIDCO, and is about 20 minutes by bus from Vashi. The Ghansoli Railway Station is located in Sector-2 of Ghansoli Node. The site is accessible from Thane-Belapur Road towards eastern side...
, Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane is a node of the city of Navi Mumbai. It was built mostly on reclaimed land by CIDCO. Two engineering degree colleges and one engineering diploma college are located in Kopar Khairane...
and surrounding areas.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is the municipal organisation of Mumbai's satellite town Navi Mumbai. On 17 December 1991 NMMC was constituted by the State Government for catering to the requirements of 29 villages in CIDCO Navi Mumbai project and 15 villages from Kalyan. The local...
, the public body that manages the city's affairs, is rated amongst the richest corporations in Asia.
History
Navi Mumbai is the world's largest planned city.It was initially planned with a specific purpose: to decongest Mumbai and become an alternative haven for the multitudes that throng to Mumbai from all over India.
Planned city
The first post-independence development plan for Mumbai, formulated by the Mayer-Modak Committee in 1948, suggested the development of satellite towns. In March 1958, the Study Group on Greater Mumbai was set up under the chairmanship of Mr. S.G. Barve. In February 1959, the committee suggested the formation of a township on the mainland across Thane Creek to relieve congestion in Mumbai. The study group recommended that a railroad bridge be built across Thane Creek to connect peninsular Mumbai with the mainland. The bridge accelerated development across the Creek, relieved pressure on the city's railways and roadways, and attracted industrial and residential concentrations eastward to the mainland.South Navi Mumbai is being developed rapidly with its class infrastructure and modern nodes of Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel and Kalamboli.
The Barve Group's recommendations were accepted by the Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra is the government for the state of Maharashtra in Western India.It is an elected government with 288 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Ministers:...
in July 1964. In March 1965, a new committee chaired by Prof. D.R. Gadgil, then Director of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics
The Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics , commonly known as Gokhale Institute, is one of the oldest research and training institutes in Economics in India...
, was asked to form broad principles of regional planning. The Gadgil Committee strongly recommended a new town be constructed across the harbour.
In March 1966, the Gadgil Committee recommended regional planning legislation and regional planning boards. In January 1967, the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act 1966 was passed. July 1967 saw the constitution of Mumbai Metropolitan and Regional Planning Board under the chairmanship of ICS officer L.G. Rajwade. The committee published the Draft Plan with recommendations to set up a new metro centre of Navi Mumbai across the creek. This proposal was accepted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation as a new twin city designed within the Mumbai Metropolitan region to facilitate the decongestion of Mumbai.
CIDCO development
City and Industrial Development Corporation
The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra or CIDCO is a city planning organization created by the Government of Maharashtra. CIDCO was formed on 17 March 1970 under the Indian Companies Act of 1956...
(CIDCO) was formed on 17 March 1971, under the Indian Companies Act, 1956. It was given the mandate of converting about 344 square kilometres (132.8 sq mi) of marshy land lying between the village of Dighe in Thane district and the village of Kalundre of Raigad district into a new city. The area covered 150 kilometres (93.2 mi) of the total 720 kilometres (447.4 mi) of the Konkan coast. The villagers of the area lived a calm life much different from the life in the neighbouring city of Mumbai. Privately owned land conisisting of 86 villages covering 15954 hectares (39,423.2 acre) within the present limits of Navi Mumbai and further villages measuring an additional 2870 hectares (7,091.9 acre) were acquired by the government of Maharashtra.
CIDCO carved out 14 nodes—small townships—with a view towards facilitating comprehensive development. These nodes are named Airoli
Airoli
Airoli is the fifth most developed residential suburb of Navi Mumbai. It is connected to Navi Mumbai's most developed neighborhoods, Vashi and Nerul with city bus and local train services...
, Ghansoli
Ghansoli
Ghansoli ,is one of the nodes of Navi Mumbai, comprising approximate 3000 flats developed by CIDCO, and is about 20 minutes by bus from Vashi. The Ghansoli Railway Station is located in Sector-2 of Ghansoli Node. The site is accessible from Thane-Belapur Road towards eastern side...
, Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane is a node of the city of Navi Mumbai. It was built mostly on reclaimed land by CIDCO. Two engineering degree colleges and one engineering diploma college are located in Kopar Khairane...
, Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
, Sanpada
Sanpada
Sanpada is a residential node that has been developed by CIDCO since the late 1980s. It has expanded considerably with new building projects springing up every other day. In fact Sanpada is becoming the next ideal residential hub with malls and major amnesties establishing in close vicinity to...
, Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
, CBD Belapur
CBD Belapur
CBD Belapur is the third most developed node of Navi Mumbai after Vashi and Nerul. CBD Belapur has a fairly vibrant Central Business District that is moving some of the economy out of congested central Mumbai into the hinterland. Belapur is also one of the largest assembly constituencies from this...
, Kharghar
Kharghar
Kharghar is a node of Navi Mumbai, conceived and constructed by CIDCO. It is developed and maintained by CIDCO. Kharghar is located on the Mumbai-Pune highway at a less-than-one hour drive from the heart of Mumbai city. The Area started developing in 1995 and now it has of number of ready and...
, Kamothe
Kamothe
Kamothe is one of the fastest developing node of Navi Mumbai, conceived and constructed by CIDCO. It is developed and maintained by CIDCO. Kamothe is located on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway at a less-than-one hour drive from the heart of Mumbai city...
, New Panvel, Kalamboli
Kalamboli
Kalamboli is one of the nodes of Navi Mumbai and a specialized town for warehouses.Kalamboli is starting point on Mumbai-Pune Expressway from Mumbai end....
, Ulwe, Pushpak, and Dronagiri
Dronagiri
The Dronagiri zone is spread over an area of 1,777 ha and is located at the southern tip of Navi Mumbai, India. The zone is located to the east of Uran town, and is bound by the Karanja River on the south-east. Residential areas are located to the west and north-west of the zone, while the...
. CIDCO acquired 193.94 square kilometres (74.9 sq mi) of land, of which 141.05 square kilometres (54.5 sq mi) was private land, 22.92 square kilometres (8.8 sq mi) salt-pan
Salt pan (geology)
Natural salt pans are flat expanses of ground covered with salt and other minerals, usually shining white under the sun. They are found in deserts, and should not be confused with salt evaporation ponds.A salt pan is formed where water pools...
land and 52.89 square kilometres (20.4 sq mi) government land. By 2000 CIDCO had developed about 117.6 square kilometres (45.4 sq mi) of land. Of this land, 54.45 square kilometres (21 sq mi) is saleable under various land uses. CIDCO has sold about 21.9 square kilometres (8.5 sq mi) leaving a balance land for sale about 32.58 square kilometres (12.6 sq mi) under various land uses.
CIDCO planned and constructed all the railway stations in Navi Mumbai and developed nearby areas commercially.
Vashi Bridge
The Vashi Bridge, , is a bridge, built across the Thane Creek that connects the city of Mumbai to the Indian mainland at Navi Mumbai. The bridge links the suburb of Mankhurd in Mumbai with Vashi in Navi Mumbai, the satellite city of Mumbai...
, was opened to the public for residents of Vashi, Belapur and Nerul. The Sion Panvel Expressway
Sion Panvel Expressway
The Sion Panvel Expressway is a city highway serving the city of Mumbai, India currently under construction. It is one of the busiest and most important roads in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area and connects the city with National Highway 4. It is generally 12 lanes wide . The highway begins at BARC...
was built to reduce the time taken to travel from Sion to Panvel. Initially there was not much response to the new city. Major changes took place only after 1990, with the commissioning of a wholesale agricultural produce market at Vashi and the construction of a commuter railway line from Mankhurd to Vashi in May 1992. These developments caused a sudden growth in economic activities and population in Navi Mumbai.
Recent developments
By the end of the 1990s, the planning authority of Navi Mumbai initiated private participation in the developmental activity of Navi Mumbai.Some of the older and more populated nodes are Vashi, Nerul and Belapur. Some of the more recently developed nodes include Kharghar, Kamothe, Koperkhairane and New Panvel.
The 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) long Airoli Bridge
Airoli Bridge
Airoli Bridge is a bridge in the Mumbai metropolitan area of India. It was constructed to establish a direct road link between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.Constructed By AFCONS,A Mumbai based Firm and Project Executed by Subodh V...
was built over the Thane Creek between Airoli
Airoli
Airoli is the fifth most developed residential suburb of Navi Mumbai. It is connected to Navi Mumbai's most developed neighborhoods, Vashi and Nerul with city bus and local train services...
and Mulund, an eastern suburb of Mumbai.
CIDCO
When Navi Mumbai was created in 1970s, CIDCOCity and Industrial Development Corporation
The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra or CIDCO is a city planning organization created by the Government of Maharashtra. CIDCO was formed on 17 March 1970 under the Indian Companies Act of 1956...
was the only authority that looked after the development and maintenance of the city. CIDCO prepared a developmental plan for Navi Mumbai covering 95 villages from Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
and Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
.
For the first ten years of the project CIDCO acted as the planning and administrative body, as well as the developer and builder for the project. Taxes on property, land, commercial, and water were payable to CIDCO. The 14 nodes which CIDCO created were named Airoli, Ghansoli, Kopar Khairane, Vashi, Sanpada, Nerul, CBD Belapur, Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel, Kalamboli, Ulwe, Pushpak and Dronagiri. Each of the nodes is divided into smaller groups called sectors, which are numbered.
Initially only Vashi, Nerul, CBD Belapur, and Airoli were developed by CIDCO with housing, schools, and community centre roads. But after the arrival of the Harbour Line extension in 1990s, there was an increase in population. CIDCO shifted its development plan to nodes like Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel and Kopar Khairane. In its new development plan, CIDCO land was allocated to builders for housing. CIDCO only provided basic infrastructure like roads, water, and electricity; these nodes were developed mostly by private builders according to the CIDCO plan.
NMMC
In 17 December 1991 Navi Mumbai Municipal CorporationNavi Mumbai Municipal Corporation
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is the municipal organisation of Mumbai's satellite town Navi Mumbai. On 17 December 1991 NMMC was constituted by the State Government for catering to the requirements of 29 villages in CIDCO Navi Mumbai project and 15 villages from Kalyan. The local...
(NMMC) was constituted by the State Government for maintaining some of the developed nodes of Navi Mumbai.
Local self-government started on 1 January 1992. NMMC was handed nine of the 25 nodes of the Navi Mumbai project area for its jurisdiction. However, CIDCO, as a Planning Authority, has rights on the open plots in these five nodes.
The nine nodes maintained by NMMC are Belapur, Nerul, Vashi, Turbhe, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli, Airoli, Digha, and Sanpada as of 1 January 1998, with the physical and social infrastructure already in place.
The municipal corporation is headed by a municipal commissioner and an elected mayor. There are 64 electoral wards in Navi Mumbai. A corporator is elected in each of the wards. All the nodes under the municipal corporation come under Thane District.
The newly developed nodes of Navi Mumbai on the south side like Kharghar, Kamothe, New Panvel, and Kalamboli are still maintained by CIDCO. These nodes, which are all beyond Belapur, come under the Raigad District
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
and are under the jurisdiction of the Panvel Municipal Council.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport
Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport ~ N.M.M.T is the transportation wing of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, which operates a large number of bus lines in the New Mumbai metropolitan area. These buses are called New Mumbai Municipal Transport or N.M.M.T bus. NMMT bus serves the entire New Mumbai...
Undertaking or NMMT Undertaking is the local transport service operated by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation in the city of Navi Mumbai and adjoining areas of Dombivli
Dombivli
Dombivli or Dombivali is a town in Thane district, Kalyan tehsil in Maharashtra, India. It is located about fifty kilometres from the city of Mumbai, and about twenty kilometres from Thane. The population of the city, according to the 2011 census is 2,293,000,...
, Badlapur
Badlapur
Badlapur, is one of the fastest growing towns in Mumbai Conurbation, India.Due to the population growth in the nearby cities, many people working in Mumbai have moved to Badlapur for affordable real estate prices, pleasant weather, beautiful location and quiet neighborhoods along with a proximity...
, Uran
Uran
Uran is part of the Navi Mumbai city township lying in the Raigad district near Panvel and Karjat. It is situated east of Mumbai across the Dharamtar Creek, and is primarily a fishing village, which has developed into a special economy zone. Even famous for its salt pans later after the revolt by...
, Panvel
Panvel
Panvel is city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the state of Maharashtra. Panvel is also known as the gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. Panvel is located on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway about 21 kilometres from...
, Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
, Kalyan and Mulund.
Nodes
- DighaDighaDigha is a seaside resort town in the state of West Bengal, India. It lies in East Midnapore district and at the northern end of the Bay of Bengal. It is the most popular sea resort in the West Bengal....
- AiroliAiroliAiroli is the fifth most developed residential suburb of Navi Mumbai. It is connected to Navi Mumbai's most developed neighborhoods, Vashi and Nerul with city bus and local train services...
- GhansoliGhansoliGhansoli ,is one of the nodes of Navi Mumbai, comprising approximate 3000 flats developed by CIDCO, and is about 20 minutes by bus from Vashi. The Ghansoli Railway Station is located in Sector-2 of Ghansoli Node. The site is accessible from Thane-Belapur Road towards eastern side...
- Kopar KhairaneKopar KhairaneKopar Khairane is a node of the city of Navi Mumbai. It was built mostly on reclaimed land by CIDCO. Two engineering degree colleges and one engineering diploma college are located in Kopar Khairane...
- TurbheTurbheTurbhe is a place located near Vashi, India. It has a high concentration of industrial activities.Turbhe is the fifth railway station on the Thane-Turbhe-Nerul/Vashi Railway Line, starting from Thane. It is at a distance of 15 km from Thane railway station and 3 km from Vashi railway...
- SanpadaSanpadaSanpada is a residential node that has been developed by CIDCO since the late 1980s. It has expanded considerably with new building projects springing up every other day. In fact Sanpada is becoming the next ideal residential hub with malls and major amnesties establishing in close vicinity to...
- VashiVashiVashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
- NerulNerulNerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
- CBD BelapurCBD BelapurCBD Belapur is the third most developed node of Navi Mumbai after Vashi and Nerul. CBD Belapur has a fairly vibrant Central Business District that is moving some of the economy out of congested central Mumbai into the hinterland. Belapur is also one of the largest assembly constituencies from this...
- Taloja
- KamotheKamotheKamothe is one of the fastest developing node of Navi Mumbai, conceived and constructed by CIDCO. It is developed and maintained by CIDCO. Kamothe is located on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway at a less-than-one hour drive from the heart of Mumbai city...
- KhargharKhargharKharghar is a node of Navi Mumbai, conceived and constructed by CIDCO. It is developed and maintained by CIDCO. Kharghar is located on the Mumbai-Pune highway at a less-than-one hour drive from the heart of Mumbai city. The Area started developing in 1995 and now it has of number of ready and...
- KalamboliKalamboliKalamboli is one of the nodes of Navi Mumbai and a specialized town for warehouses.Kalamboli is starting point on Mumbai-Pune Expressway from Mumbai end....
- New Panvel
- Pushpak
- Ulwe
- DronagiriDronagiriThe Dronagiri zone is spread over an area of 1,777 ha and is located at the southern tip of Navi Mumbai, India. The zone is located to the east of Uran town, and is bound by the Karanja River on the south-east. Residential areas are located to the west and north-west of the zone, while the...
(UranUranUran is part of the Navi Mumbai city township lying in the Raigad district near Panvel and Karjat. It is situated east of Mumbai across the Dharamtar Creek, and is primarily a fishing village, which has developed into a special economy zone. Even famous for its salt pans later after the revolt by...
)
Seawoods
Politics
The city has one Member of Parliament seat, two Member of legislature seats, and 89 Corporation seats. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is ruled by the Nationalist Congress PartyNationalist Congress Party
The Nationalist Congress Party is a centre to centre left political party primarily based in the state of Maharashtra, India.-Background:...
(NCP). The NCP holds 55 seats in the NMMC and holds all of the MP and MLA seats. The Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena , is a political party in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray. It is currently headed by Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray...
-BJP holds the second largest position in the corporation with a combined total of 17 seats. The Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
party has 13 seats in the corporation. Other parties like the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is a political party based in Maharashtra operating on the motto of "Sons of the Soil". It was founded on the March 9, 2006 in Mumbai by Raj Thackeray after he left the Shiv Sena due to differences with Uddhav Thackeray and sidelining in major decisions like...
, Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party
Samajwadi Party is a political party in India. It is based in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It describes itself as a democratic socialist party...
, Bahujan Samaj Party
Bahujan Samaj Party
The Bahujan Samaj Party is a centrist national political party in India with socialist leanings. It was formed to chiefly represent Bahujans , referring to people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes as well as Buddhists. The party claims to be inspired by the...
, Republican Party of India (Athvale)
Republican Party of India (Athvale)
The Republican Party of India is a political party in India, a splinter group of the old Ambedkarite Republican Party of India. The president of the party is Ramdas Athvale....
, Janata Dal (Secular)
Janata Dal (Secular)
The Janata Dal is a Centre-left ಕನ್ನಡ: ಜನತಾ ದಳIndian political party led by former Prime Minister of India H.D. Deve Gowda.The party recognized as state party in the states of Karnataka and Kerala . It was formed in July 1999 by the split of Janata Dal party. It has political presence mainly in...
, and other parties contest elections but presently hold no seats.
Organisations like Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
and Bajrang Dal
Bajrang Dal
The Bajrang Dal , a hardline and militant Hindu organization in India, is the youth wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and is based on the ideology of Hindutva. Founded on 1 October 1984 in Uttar Pradesh, India, it has since spread throughout India...
are also present here but are not active in politics.
Some of the major politicians from Navi Mumbai are Excise Minister Ganesh Naik
Ganesh Naik
Ganesh Naik born September 15, 1950 is an Indian politician. He is the Nationalist Congress Party member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly representing Belapur, and is the Thane Guardian Minister in the state government...
, MP Sanjeev Naik
Sanjeev Naik
Sanjeev Ganesh Naik is an Indian politician, who became the first mayor of the satellite city of Navi Mumbai at the age of 23...
, MLA Sandeep Naik
Sandeep Naik
|268px|thumb|left|Sandeep Naik]]MLA Sandeep Naik , Sandeep Naik son of Nationalist Congress party heavy weight & State Excise Minister Non Conventional Energy Minister Shri Ganesh Naik and Younger Brother of Thane NCP & NCP Chief whip MP Sanjeev Naik.Sandeep Naik is the Standing Committee chairman...
, BJP Leader Suresh Haware, Shiv Sena Chief Vijay Chougule and first lady mayor shiv sena women's chief sushma dande.
Physical characteristics
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
: Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
and Raigad
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
. The region is hilly in some parts, and certain areas of the region are protected wetland
Wetland
A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. Wetlands are categorised by their characteristic vegetation, which is adapted to these unique soil conditions....
s. Unlike its bigger neighbour, the city is sparsely populated.
Its coordinates are between Latitude 19.5’ and 19.15’, Longitude 72.55’ and 73.5’.
Geography and geology
To the east, there are small hills running in a north-south direction. The land is situated in the Konkan RegionKonkan
The Konkan also called the Konkan Coast or Karavali is a rugged section of the western coastline of India from Raigad to Mangalore...
. The narrow belt of land starts at Dighe in the north and ends at Kalundre
Kalundre
Kalundre is a census town in Raigad district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Demographics: India census, Kalundre had a population of 7581. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Kalundre has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male...
in the south. It is 25.6 square kilometres (9.9 sq mi) in area, 20 kilometres (12.4 mi) long and about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) wide.
To part of Western Konkan coast is a narrow coastal strip along the western part of Sahyadris. It is bound on the East side by hillocks of 50 to 200 m height and on the west side by Thane creek
Thane Creek
Thane Creek is part of the estuary of the Ulhas River in western India opening into Mumbai Harbour. It comprises the area stretching from Mumbra Retibunder to the Mankhurd-Vashi Bridge. It has been recognised as an Important Bird Area by the Bombay Natural History Society, as it is home to...
.
The rock formations in the region are derived mainly from Deccan Basalt and from granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
s, gneiss
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
and laterite
Laterite
Laterites are soil types rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are rusty-red because of iron oxides. They develop by intensive and long-lasting weathering of the underlying parent rock...
. The gently sloping coastal low lands are observed in patches and are covered with moderately shallow to deep soils, mostly lateritic in nature, sometimes oxidised to yellow marrum.
The soils of the region are high in saline in the vicinity of creeks with lower saline at other places. They are calcareous
Calcareous
Calcareous is an adjective meaning mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate, in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.-In zoology:...
, neutral to alkaline in reaction (pH 7.5 to 8.5), often contain clay, with a high amount of bases and high water holding capacity (200–250 mm/m). The soils located on moderately sloping residual hills are lateritic in nature and show intensively leached surfaces. They are loamy and slight to moderately acidic (pH 5-6.5) with moderate base status (< 75%).
Land use
The land was used to produce ricePaddy field
A paddy field is a flooded parcel of arable land used for growing rice and other semiaquatic crops. Paddy fields are a typical feature of rice farming in east, south and southeast Asia. Paddies can be built into steep hillsides as terraces and adjacent to depressed or steeply sloped features such...
during the rainy season. Some mango and coconut orchards and limited vegetable cultivation was also practised by locals. Those with good irrigation facilities would choose to cultivate legumes like Tur and bean
Bean
Bean is a common name for large plant seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae used for human food or animal feed....
s. With urbanisation, almost all agricultural
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
activities in Navi Mumbai have ceased to exist, except in the easternmost part.
Fish, crabs, and prawns were common products from the creek, though the quantities of each were not significant. Surplus from domestic consumption was sold in Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
and Belapur
CBD Belapur
CBD Belapur is the third most developed node of Navi Mumbai after Vashi and Nerul. CBD Belapur has a fairly vibrant Central Business District that is moving some of the economy out of congested central Mumbai into the hinterland. Belapur is also one of the largest assembly constituencies from this...
markets. With the advent of industries in the region, and with consequent deterioration of water quality, these markets were lost.
Climate
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has a station in ThaneThane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
on the Belapur Industry Association (TBIA) premises which collects meteorological data daily. Under the Koppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
, the city has a tropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate
Tropical monsoon climate, occasionally also known as a tropical wet climate or tropical monsoon and trade-wind littoral climate in climate classification, is a relatively rare type of climate that corresponds to the Köppen climate classification category "Am."Tropical monsoon climates have monthly...
that borders on a tropical wet and dry climate. Overall climate is equable with high rainfall days and very few days of extreme temperatures.
According to the IMD, the predominant wind direction is southwest in monsoon and north-east during rest of the year.
Demographics
As of the 2001 India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Navi Mumbai had a population of 703,947. Males constitute 56% of the population and females 44%. Navi Mumbai has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 67%. In Navi Mumbai, 14% of the population is under 6 years of age, with 28% in the age group of up to 15 years, 55% in the age group of 15-44 year bracket and 13% aged 45–59. Average family size is 4.05 persons, compared to Mumbai's average of 4.85.
67% of families living in Navi Mumbai own their homes and of the working population, 63.5% are employed within the city.
A 2000 survey done by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Tata Institute of Social Sciences
Tata Institute of Social Sciences is a social sciences institute based in Deonar, Mumbai, India.-History:TISS was established in 1936, as the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work, the first school of social work in India. In 1944 the school was renamed to its current name...
revealed that 43% of the families currently settled in Navi Mumbai migrated from Mumbai. This percentage has gone up since then. The survey found that the literacy rate in the city was 96%, that 32% of the total population was working, 67% own their houses and 46% own vehicles. As of 2008 the estimated population is 2,600,000, and Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
and Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
are the most populated nodes of the city.
Nerul is the most populated area of Navi Mumbai, with an estimated population of 800,000, followed by Vashi, which has an estimated population of 700,000.
Kharghar Node in Navi Mumbai has witnessed the highest population growth in 2010 census compared to 2001 census, which is little more than 1000%
The average monthly family income in Navi Mumbai is 9549/month, compared to 5000/month in Mumbai. Vashi has the highest monthly income at 12,349/month, followed by Nerul, at 11,998/month.
Religion
Brahmagiri
Brahmagiri , ' is a mountain range in the Western Ghats of south India. It is situated on the border between Kodagu district in Karnataka state in the north and Wayanad district of Kerala state on the south . Brahmagiri Hill, at 1608 m height, is a scenic tourist attraction...
, where CIDCO had in a planned way allotted plots to religious activities atop a hill near the west side of the Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
Railway Station. This area houses a Balaji Temple, a Swaminarayan Temple Complex, a Mata Amirtandamayi Temple Complex, a Narayanaguru Temple Complex, the Little Flower Church and the Epworth Methodist Tamil Church. All these religious institutions are well patronised by people not only from Navi Mumbai but also from Mumbai.
Inside the South Indian Education Society complex at Nerul, close to Mumbai-Pune Expressway
Mumbai-Pune Expressway
The Mumbai Pune Expressway , officially the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway is India's first six-lane concrete, high-speed, access controlled tolled expressway. It spans a distance of connecting Mumbai, the administrative capital of Maharashtra and the financial capital of India, with Pune, an...
, there is a Anjaneyar (Lord Hanuman
Hanuman
Hanuman , is a Hindu deity, who is an ardent devotee of Rama, a central character in the Indian epic Ramayana and one of the dearest devotees of lord Rama. A general among the vanaras, an ape-like race of forest-dwellers, Hanuman is an incarnation of the divine and a disciple of Lord Rama in the...
) Temple, a Kamakshi Amman Temple
Kamakshi Amman Temple
The Kamakshi Temple is a famous Hindu temple dedicated to Kamakshi, one of the forms of the goddess Parvati. It is located in the historic city of Kanchipuram, near Chennai, India and is popularly associated with Sankaracharya, one of the greatest Hindu gurus...
and an Adhisankarar Mandap Temple. The Anjaneyar idol is 10 metres in height and is installed on a pedestal that is 3.6 metres high. It is made of a single granite stone.
In line with the fast growing population of the Navi Mumbai, the city has now a vast number of religious place for worship, fellowship, and service. Various temples have been built in Kharghar. Churches of various denominations has started regular services at various nodes. List of churches in Navi Mumbai has been undertaken in wikipedia. Various cultural events are being organised by the respective associations and religions to commemorate festivals and events.
Language
Navi Mumbai has an AgriAgri (people)
-Origin:The name Agri comes from Agar, a salt-pan. The original name seems to be Agle.The tradition common among them is that they originally dwelt at Mungi Paithan and were transported to the Konkan by Bimbaraja, and it is alleged that there are in existence sanads given by him to certain persons...
and Koli
KOLI
KOLI is a radio station serving Wichita Falls, Texas and Vicinity with a country music format. It operates on FM frequency 94.9 MHz and is under ownership of Cumulus Media. It is the radio flagship station for the Wichita Falls Wildcats hockey team....
population. Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
is extensively spoken in most of Navi Mumbai. Business in the municipal corporation is also transacted in Marathi. A common language spoken on the city streets is Mumbaiya Hindi or Bambaiya Hindi
Bambaiya Hindi
Mumbai Hindi or simply Mumbaiyya is a Hindi pidgin spoken in and around the city of Mumbai, India. It incorporates words and pronunciations from Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Konkani and English...
—a blend of Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
, with some invented colloquial words. English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
is extensively spoken and is the working language of the city's white collar
White-collar worker
The term white-collar worker refers to a person who performs professional, managerial, or administrative work, in contrast with a blue-collar worker, whose job requires manual labor...
workforce.
Education
There are 11 EngineeringEngineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
Colleges, two Medical Colleges, three Architectural colleges and a National Institute of Fashion Technology(NIFT). There are 128 primary schools, 80 secondary schools, and 25 colleges in the NMMC area. Navi Mumbai has become self sufficient in higher education facilities—only 4% students go to Mumbai for higher studies.
Transportation
Public transport in Mumbai
Public transport in Mumbai involves the transport of millions of its citizens by train, road and water. Over 88% of the commuters in Mumbai use public transport . It is the most convenient, efficient and cheap form of transport to a population largely without sufficient income to afford cars...
are the red NMMT buses and suburban trains
Mumbai Suburban Railway
The Mumbai Suburban Railway system, part of the public transport system of Mumbai, is provided for by the state-run Indian Railways' two zonal Western Railways and Central Railways. The system carries more than 6.99 million commuters on a daily basis. It has the highest passenger densities of any...
. NMMT buses are similar to the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport
BEST Bus
The transportation wing of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking operates a large number of bus lines in the Mumbai metropolitan area. These buses are called BEST or B.E ST bus . BEST bus serves the entire Mumbai City. It also has operations outside city limits into neighboring...
buses except that they are operated by NMMC. Auto rickshaw
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw or three-wheeler is a usually three-wheeled cabin cycle for private use and as a vehicle for hire. It is a motorized version of the traditional pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw...
s and Taxis
Taxicab
A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of their choice...
are popular modes of transport. With the Mulund-Airoli
Airoli
Airoli is the fifth most developed residential suburb of Navi Mumbai. It is connected to Navi Mumbai's most developed neighborhoods, Vashi and Nerul with city bus and local train services...
link, currently the fastest route to central is via NMMT or the BEST buses to Mulund.
Within each node, the auto rickshaw is the preferred mode of transportation. Yellow and Black taxicabs operating from designated taxi stands provide the means to travel further to destinations such as Mumbai and Thane. Taxis charge a fixed rate approved by the Regional Transport Office
Regional Transport Office
Regional Transport Office is an Indian government bureau which is responsible for the registration of vehicles and the issue of Driver's Licences in India....
.
The Mumbai Suburban Railway
Mumbai Suburban Railway
The Mumbai Suburban Railway system, part of the public transport system of Mumbai, is provided for by the state-run Indian Railways' two zonal Western Railways and Central Railways. The system carries more than 6.99 million commuters on a daily basis. It has the highest passenger densities of any...
network covers most of the populated region of the city. The most important external railway stations are Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
, Belapur
CBD Belapur
CBD Belapur is the third most developed node of Navi Mumbai after Vashi and Nerul. CBD Belapur has a fairly vibrant Central Business District that is moving some of the economy out of congested central Mumbai into the hinterland. Belapur is also one of the largest assembly constituencies from this...
and Panvel
Panvel
Panvel is city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the state of Maharashtra. Panvel is also known as the gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. Panvel is located on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway about 21 kilometres from...
. Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
will be an important external railway station when the Thane-Nerul-Uran link starts. The stations are planned as a major railway junction. Most trains plying on the Konkan Railway
Konkan Railway
The Konkan Railway is a railway line which runs along the Konkan coast of India. It was constructed and is operated by the Konkan Railway Corporation...
stop at Panvel
Panvel
Panvel is city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the state of Maharashtra. Panvel is also known as the gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. Panvel is located on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway about 21 kilometres from...
so that those passengers destined to reach Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
may get the local trains. These trains bypass the island city altogether. Future plans include linking the station to Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
via Karjat
Karjat
Karjat is a city, a Municipal Council, a Tahsil and a sub-district in Raigad district, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:...
to cut travel time between Mumbai and Pune.
The Thane-Vashi corridor on the Harbour Line of the Central Railway was commissioned on 9 November 2004. The trains ply along an 18.5 km route through Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
, Sanpada
Sanpada
Sanpada is a residential node that has been developed by CIDCO since the late 1980s. It has expanded considerably with new building projects springing up every other day. In fact Sanpada is becoming the next ideal residential hub with malls and major amnesties establishing in close vicinity to...
, Turbhe
Turbhe
Turbhe is a place located near Vashi, India. It has a high concentration of industrial activities.Turbhe is the fifth railway station on the Thane-Turbhe-Nerul/Vashi Railway Line, starting from Thane. It is at a distance of 15 km from Thane railway station and 3 km from Vashi railway...
, Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane is a node of the city of Navi Mumbai. It was built mostly on reclaimed land by CIDCO. Two engineering degree colleges and one engineering diploma college are located in Kopar Khairane...
, Ghansoli
Ghansoli
Ghansoli ,is one of the nodes of Navi Mumbai, comprising approximate 3000 flats developed by CIDCO, and is about 20 minutes by bus from Vashi. The Ghansoli Railway Station is located in Sector-2 of Ghansoli Node. The site is accessible from Thane-Belapur Road towards eastern side...
, Rabale
Rabale
Rabale is located between the residential suburbs of Airoli and Ghansoli on the Thane-Belapur road in Navi Mumbai. Rabales' railway station is on the Thane-Vashi/Nerul section. Rabale is also home to one of the biggest industrial belts employing over 5000 workers . Rabale railway station also...
and Airoli
Airoli
Airoli is the fifth most developed residential suburb of Navi Mumbai. It is connected to Navi Mumbai's most developed neighborhoods, Vashi and Nerul with city bus and local train services...
, to Thane
Thane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
. Work is underway to lay an additional pair of tracks between Thane and Kurla
Kurla
Kurla is a suburb of Mumbai. It is also the name of one the busiest railway stations on the Mumbai suburban railway on the central and harbour railway lines of Mumbai...
- the 5th and 6th corridor for a ring railway route: Thane-Kurla-Vashi-Thane. The new broad Gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
Harbour Line is functional between Karjat
Karjat
Karjat is a city, a Municipal Council, a Tahsil and a sub-district in Raigad district, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai in the Indian state of Maharashtra.-Geography:...
and Panvel
Panvel
Panvel is city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the state of Maharashtra. Panvel is also known as the gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. Panvel is located on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway about 21 kilometres from...
.
BEST buses of the 500 series travel between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. For example, BEST route 505 starts from the CBD of Navi Mumbai and ends at Bandra in Mumbai, and vice versa. Others routes such as 506, 507, 511, 512 take commuters from Nerul in Navi Mumbai to Mumbai and back. NMMT and BEST AC buses are both available to people of Navi Mumbai.
The 10 km long Palm Beach Marg
Palm Beach Marg
The Palm Beach Road is a six-lane road and an up-market residential and commercial road that connects Vashi to Belapur via Nerul running parallel to the Thane creek...
(Marg translates to Road in Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) is a six-lane state-of-the-art road that connects Vashi to CBD-Belapur running parallel to the Thane creek. It is a twin of the Marine Drive.
There is growing demand for a new bridge over the Thane Creek from Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane is a node of the city of Navi Mumbai. It was built mostly on reclaimed land by CIDCO. Two engineering degree colleges and one engineering diploma college are located in Kopar Khairane...
to Kannamwar Nagar in Vikroli, Mumbai off the eastern express highway so as to connect the eastern suburbs of Mumbai. This will establish a much desired third bridge linking Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Navi Mumbai boasts the most advanced port in India, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, at Nhava Sheva
Nhava Sheva
Nhava Sheva, officially Jawaharlal Nehru Port, is the 6th largest port and the largest container port in India. Located in Maharashtra, the port on the Arabian Sea is accessed via Thane Creek.- History :...
near Uran
Uran
Uran is part of the Navi Mumbai city township lying in the Raigad district near Panvel and Karjat. It is situated east of Mumbai across the Dharamtar Creek, and is primarily a fishing village, which has developed into a special economy zone. Even famous for its salt pans later after the revolt by...
. It is well connected with road and railways, and handles approximately 65% of India's container traffic.
Navi Mumbai is located 30 km away from Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport
Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport , formerly Sahar International Airport, is the primary international airport in Mumbai, India, and is South Asia's second busiest airport in term of passenger traffic....
which currently acts as the International Airport for the city, but things will change up soon when the Navi Mumbai International Airport
Navi Mumbai International Airport
The proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport is a new international airport, which is to come up at Kopra-Panvel area, is being built through public-private partnership — with private sector partner getting 74% equity while Airports Authority of India and Govt of Maharashtra holding 13% each...
will be ready for use.
International Airport
The new international airport for Navi Mumbai, destined for the Kopra-PanvelPanvel
Panvel is city and a municipal council in Raigad district in the state of Maharashtra. Panvel is also known as the gateway of Konkan region. It adjoins Navi Mumbai, and is just after the Thane district border. Panvel is located on the Yashwantrao Chavan Expressway about 21 kilometres from...
area, will be built through public-private partnership (PPP), with private sector partners having 74% equity and the Airports Authority of India (AAI)
Airports Authority of India
The Airports Authority of India is an organization working under the Ministry of Civil Aviation that manages most of the airports in India. The AAI manages and operates 126 airports including 16 international airports, 89 domestic airports and 26 civil enclaves. The corporate headquarters are at...
and Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra
Government of Maharashtra is the government for the state of Maharashtra in Western India.It is an elected government with 288 MLAs elected to the legislative assembly for a 5 year term.-Ministers:...
(through City and Industrial Development Corporation or CIDCO) each holding 13%.
The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
has already given techno-feasibility clearance to the airport. The central government provided cabinet approval for the construction on 31 May 2007. Specialised consultants were appointed and the global tendering process is underway. The government authorities are still planning the land acquisition.
Infrastructure
Basic infrastructure worth is already in place. The city boasts a reliable supply of electricity from various sources, and excellent motoring conditions, with numerous flyovers, broad roads, and parking lots. The main problem facing the residents is poor connectivity with Mumbai, with only two road links between the two cities and a single rail line. A hovercraftHovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
service from Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
to Colaba
Colaba
Colaba is a part of the city of Mumbai, India, and also a Lok Sabha constituency. During Portuguese rule in the 16th century, the island was known as Candil...
and the CBD to Colaba did not succeed due to the high cost of tickets and maintenance. Cidco is planning to relaunch its hovercraft service from Vashi, Belapur
CBD Belapur
CBD Belapur is the third most developed node of Navi Mumbai after Vashi and Nerul. CBD Belapur has a fairly vibrant Central Business District that is moving some of the economy out of congested central Mumbai into the hinterland. Belapur is also one of the largest assembly constituencies from this...
, Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
, and Airoli
Airoli
Airoli is the fifth most developed residential suburb of Navi Mumbai. It is connected to Navi Mumbai's most developed neighborhoods, Vashi and Nerul with city bus and local train services...
to Gateway of India.
Services
There are adequate utility services, banks, restaurants, malls, multiplexes and other shops in Navi Mumbai. Vashi boasts several shopping malls such as Center One, Palm Beach Galleria, Citi Center, Raghuleela MallRaghuleela Mall Vashi
Raghuleela is a mall situated in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, India. Developed by Raghuleela Properties Pvt.Ltd., Raghuleela Mall is a 4-storeyed air-conditioned mall covering an area of approximately on each floor with elevators, escalators and central staircase atrium to connect all the four...
and Inorbit Mall
Inorbit Mall
Inorbit Malls, a subsidiary of the K. Raheja Corporation, first opened its doors to the public in early 2004, in Malad, Mumbai. Inorbit Malls launched their Vashi, Navi Mumbai property in October 2008; in Cyberabad in Oct 2009...
. Palm Beach Road, Nerul, and Kharghar are also witnessing the construction of malls and multiplexes. Throughout Navi Mumbai supermarkets and malls like Apnaa Bazaar, More, Spencer's, Reliance Fresh, Spinach and Fairprice cater to the shopping needs of the residents. DMart has launched five hypermalls in Navi Mumbai.
Leading banks such as the State Bank of India
State Bank of India
The State Bank of India is the largest Indian banking and financial services company with its headquarters in Mumbai, India. It is state-owned. The bank traces its ancestry to British India, through the Imperial Bank of India, to the founding in 1806 of the Bank of Calcutta, making it the oldest...
, Union Bank
Union Bank
Union Bank was established in 1991 and had its headquarters in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Prior to the merger with Standard Chartered Bank , it was Pakistan's eighth largest bank and had 65 branches in some 22 cities, about US$2 billion in assets, and about 400,000 customers.In 2006, Standard...
, Saraswat Bank
Saraswat Bank
Saraswat Bank is an urban co-operative banking institution based in Maharashtra, India and operating as a co-operative bank since 1918.In 1988, it was conferred with scheduled status by Reserve Bank of India....
, Bank of Baroda
Bank of Baroda
Bank of Baroda is the third largest bank in India, after the State Bank of India and the Punjab National Bank and ahead of ICICI Bank. BoB is ranked 763 in Forbes Global 2000 list. BoB has total assets in excess of Rs. 3.58 lakh crores, or Rs. 3,583 billion, a network of over 3,409 branches and...
, Bank of Maharashtra
Bank of Maharashtra
Bank of Maharashtra is the premier bank of Maharashtra, operating in the country of India.Registered on 16th Sept 1935 with an authorized capital of Rs 10.00 lakh and commenced business on 8th Feb 1936....
, Bank of Hyderabad, Citibank India
Citibank India
-History:Established 109 years ago in Kolkata, Citibank has a long history in India. Currently it is the largest foreign direct investor in financial services in India with a total capital commitment of approximately US$ 4 Billion in its onshore banking and financial services business and its...
, ICICI Bank
ICICI Bank
ICICI Bank Ltd. is India's second largest financial services company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It offers a wide range of banking products and financial services to corporate and retail customers through a variety of delivery channels and through its specialised subsidiaries in the areas of...
, and HDFC Bank
HDFC Bank
HDFC Bank Limited is a major Indian financial services company based in India, incorporated in August 1994, after the Reserve Bank of India allowed establishing private sector banks. The Bank was promoted by the Housing Development Finance Corporation, a premier housing finance company of India...
have their branches and ATMs around Navi Mumbai. The Reserve Bank of India
Reserve Bank of India
The Reserve Bank of India is the central banking institution of India and controls the monetary policy of the rupee as well as US$300.21 billion of currency reserves. The institution was established on 1 April 1935 during the British Raj in accordance with the provisions of the Reserve Bank of...
has served the people of Navi Mumbai since 2001.
Navi Mumbai has very few three- and five-star hotels. However, with the completion of the Navi Mumbai International Airport by 2012, nodes like Nerul, Panvel, Kharghar, and CBD Belapur are expected to get several five-star luxury hotels.
Commerce
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
have their offices in Navi Mumbai. The government of Maharashtra has set up software parks to cater to the growing demand. Many large institutions have their offices here. Since 2005, The Reliance
Reliance Industries
Reliance Industries Limited is an Indian conglomerate company headquartered at Mumbai, India. The company operates through three business segments: petrochemicals, refining, and oil and gas, other segment of the company includes textile, retail business, special economic zone development and...
group of industries have had a major presence, and DAKC in Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane
Kopar Khairane is a node of the city of Navi Mumbai. It was built mostly on reclaimed land by CIDCO. Two engineering degree colleges and one engineering diploma college are located in Kopar Khairane...
and Mahape
Mahape
Mahape or Mohope is a suburb of Navi Mumbai, India. This is located near Ghansoli Railway station on Thane - Vashi Railway on Harbour route of mumbai. Extreme points of Mahape are Larsen & Toubro Infotech, Turbhe, Ghansoli and Koparkhairane. Mahape Chowk is main road crossing of this suburb. Good...
. Other prominent companies include CORE Projects & Technologies Ltd, Hexaware Technologies
Hexaware Technologies
Hexaware Technologies Limited is an information technology and business process outsourcing service provider company based in Mumbai, India. The company provides software services in airlines, banking and financial services and health care insurance sectors...
, Mastek
Mastek
Mastek Limited is a multinational information technology services company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It is one of the oldest software companies in India. It has four development centers in India...
, Enser Communications, Patni Computer Systems
Patni Computer Systems
iGATE Patni , is a provider of Information Technology services and business solutions. The company employs over 15,000 people, and has 23 international offices across the Americas, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as offshore development centres in eight cities in India...
, Intellenet, Hewitt Associates
Hewitt Associates
Hewitt Associates , based in Lincolnshire, Illinois, United States was a global human resources outsourcing and consulting firm delivering a complete range of integrated services to help companies manage their total HR and employee costs, enhance HR services, and improve their workforces.Hewitt...
, TCS
Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Consultancy Services Limited is a global IT services, business solutions and outsourcing company headquartered in Mumbai, India. It is the largest provider of information technology in Asia and second largest provider of business process outsourcing services in India...
, Digit magazine
Digit (magazine)
Digit is an Indian monthly technology magazine published by 9.9 Media. According to the Indian Readership Survey it has a circulation of about 1200 and a readership of over 1840. The same survey results suggest that it is the most read technology magazine in India, higher than even the combined...
, V2Solutions, IRIS Business Services Private Limited, Indiagames, and Carwale
Carwale
CarWale is an automotive website and a registered brand owned by Automotive Exchange Private Limited in India. The website was co-founded by Mohit Dubey and his three friends in October 2005. In Nov 2010 Axel Springer AG and Living Media acquired 52.1% and 18.3% stake respectively in the company...
. Most of them are located in an area called the Millenium Business Park in Mahape. As a part of long-term planning, major commodity markets have begun moving from the heart of Mumbai city to Navi Mumbai. Kalamboli
Kalamboli
Kalamboli is one of the nodes of Navi Mumbai and a specialized town for warehouses.Kalamboli is starting point on Mumbai-Pune Expressway from Mumbai end....
(a node in Navi Mumbai) is home to a major steel market.
Vashi
Vashi
Vashi is an upmarket residential as well as commercial township in the city of Navi Mumbai. It is a premier city in Navi Mumbai and was one of the first "nodes" developed by CIDCO.-Populace:...
has the fresh fruits and vegetables market. One of the important business landmarks is the shipping port of Jawaharlal Nehru Port in the Nhava Sheva
Nhava Sheva
Nhava Sheva, officially Jawaharlal Nehru Port, is the 6th largest port and the largest container port in India. Located in Maharashtra, the port on the Arabian Sea is accessed via Thane Creek.- History :...
- Dronagiri
Dronagiri
The Dronagiri zone is spread over an area of 1,777 ha and is located at the southern tip of Navi Mumbai, India. The zone is located to the east of Uran town, and is bound by the Karanja River on the south-east. Residential areas are located to the west and north-west of the zone, while the...
nodes. The major business hubs in the City are CBD Belapur, Vashi, Nerul and Mahape.
The International Infotech Park at Vashi and Belapur railway station complex houses many international IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
companies. The New Millennium City near Mahape forms a major part of the Knowledge Corridor that spans Mumbai and Pune. The head office of Reliance Infocom - Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City is situated opposite the Koparkhairane station. Other IT companies in Navi Mumbai include L&T Infotech, Wipro Ltd, CMC, Tata Consultancy Services, Aptech, Track Mail, ICICI Infotech and PCS, whose offices are on Thane Belapur Road.
The Navi Mumbai Special Economic Zone (SEZ) located in the nodes of Dronagiri and Kalamboli are planned to provide commercial growth and employment to the city. Positioned enroute the proposed Navi Mumbai Airport, this mega project has attracted investments of close to 40,000 crores.
Marathon Group has launched the development of its mini SEZ called NexZone near the site of the proposed airport. This mini SEZ will be specially for the IT/ITES industry and will be an integrated township of residential and commercial buildings, entertainment mall and education institutes. Honda SEIL's Headquarters is located in Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
MIDC.
Law and order
As the population and prosperity of the city rose through the years, it began to attract more criminal activity. Navi Mumbai's crime count jumped up from 2,763 in 2003 to 3,571 in 2004. One of the main reasons for the spurt in crime is continuous political meddling in police investigations and the grossly under-staffed police force.There are very few police chowkies throughout Navi Mumbai with virtually non existent beat chowkies and traffic police. Criminal activities in Navi Mumbai include chain snatching, pickpocketing, cellphone snatching. These crimes are mainly confined to sparsely populated areas. Navi Mumbai has witnessed several vehicle thefts
Motor vehicle theft
Motor vehicle theft is the criminal act of stealing or attempting to steal a motor vehicle...
and burglaries
Burglary
Burglary is a crime, the essence of which is illicit entry into a building for the purposes of committing an offense. Usually that offense will be theft, but most jurisdictions specify others which fall within the ambit of burglary...
involving unoccupied houses. Murder and armed robbery take place in significant numbers. Riots and community feuds take place, especially in the Ghansoli area. There have been several instances where mobs of frustrated native villagers have beaten innocent law abiding residents. Nerul is especially plagued by robbery. The number of accidents on the Palm Beach Road caused by are growing at an alarming pace due to non existent traffic police or security cameras. The absence of street lights on the highway between Belapur and Kharghar poses a continued danger to motorists.
Shops and housing colonies often hire private security guards, as the police force is often overstretched. Businesses are expected to shut shop by 10pm. The Mumbai underworld has begun to take notice of the city, targeting the increasingly thriving businesses of cable operators, builders and real estate developers for extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
. On the whole, crime in Navi Mumbai is much less than in Mumbai.
Sports
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
is the prevalent sport in the city. Navi Mumbai has its own International Cricket Ground in Nerul
Nerul
Nerul is an upmarket residential and commercial node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India and is better known as the queen of Navi Mumbai. It has 50 sectors. It is the biggest and the most populated residential node in the city of Navi Mumbai. Nerul along with Seawoods Darave makes...
called the DY Patil Stadium
DY Patil Stadium
The Dr. D. Y. Patil Stadium is a cricket stadium at D. Y. Patil Vidyanagar campus, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, India. The stadium has all the facilities of an international cricket stadium, and has been designed by Hafeez Contractor, one of India's premier architects...
which hosted 3 IPL T-20 matches and the IPL T-20 Cricket Final. It is said that this stadium is one of the best in India. Football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
is the second most popular sport with the city clubs playing during the monsoons, when other outdoor sports cannot be played. The FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
is one of the most widely watched television events in Mumbai. India's national sport, field hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, has gone into a sharp decline in the recent years, losing out in terms of popularity to cricket, though many Mumbai players play on the national team.
Navi Mumbai has an olympic size swimming pool at Nerul. CIDCO has proposed two 18 hole golf course academies at Nerul and Kharghar. There are plans to have sports facilities in the proposed 80 hectare Central park being developed in Kharghar. The park is expected to open in mid 2010.
The Navi Mumbai Olympics is held every year. The 2008 Olympics had 12 sports and more than 3500 participants. It was won by Vashi Vikings while the runners up were the Nerul Ninjas. The other teams which take part in these Olympics are the KoparKhairane Kings, the Airoli Aces, the Panvel Patriots, the Belapur Blazers, the Kalamboli Knockouts and the Kharghar Knights.
Sister cities
Navi Mumbai has many sister cities: CaracasCaracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...