MMRDA Signs MoU with South Korea
The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) has signed an MoU (memorandum of understanding) with South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The MoU intends to prepare a master plan for developing the eastern parts of Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). This will involve developing the Virar-Alibaug multi-modal corridor.
The Virar-Alibaug Multi-modal corridor
The Virar-Alibaug corridor is a 126 km Comprehensive Transportation System (CTS) for MMR and passes through the eastern part of MMR. It will connect national highways NH-4, NH-3, NH-4B, NH-17, Bhiwandi bypass and Mumbai-Pune Expressway. Out of the 126 km, the 79 km long Virar-Chirner corridor has already been approved and termed financially feasible by the MMRDA.
The Virar-Alibaug corridor is expected to be an important step towards urbanization of the eastern part of MMR. It is expected to create rapid development while providing job opportunities in growth centres such as Virar, Kalyan, Dombivali, Bhiwandi, Taloja, Panvel and Uran.
The corridor is also expected to help in the development of other infrastructure projects such as JNPT Port, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) and the Dedicated Freight Corridor. The corridor is also expected to reduce traffic congestion within the city. It will carry all the traffic between JNPT, Navi Mumbai and Thane. The travel time between Alibaug and Virar will be reduced by almost 50%.
Role of Korean government
MMRDA is creating a master plan for developing the areas surrounding the Virar-Alibaug corridor. The Korean team will be sharing the best practices with MMRDA. It will also workout land development models and funding patterns. The Korean government will train senior MMRDA officials and finance the study. The study will help MMRDA in approaching international funding agencies such as the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and World Bank.
According to the additional metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA, the Korean model of land use development had faced similar limitations as in India. This could be modified and used for developing the eastern parts of MMR, especially areas around the multi-modal corridor.
The plan, funding patterns and development models will be submitted to the Maharashtra government for approval within a year from January 1, 2014.
