Archive · 9 Aug 2026
MMRDA Plans Third Mumbai New City to Decongest Mumbai
Mumbai is one of the biggest, most crowded cities in India, and the government wants to build a brand new city nearby so fewer people have to live squeezed together.
The new city is being called 'Third Mumbai,' and its official name is Karnala-Sai Chirner New Town.
It will be built on a very large piece of land that currently has villages and farms.
To build it, the government needs to buy land from farmers, and it has promised them options like money, a share of new buildings, or extra building rights.
Some villagers are upset and call the land buying unfair, saying it is like a 'land grab.'
The new city will be close to a big sea bridge called the Atal Setu and a new international airport.
Planners from a Singapore company are helping design the city with roads, trains, water, and power.
Experts say the city needs a very fast train so people can travel to Mumbai for work every day.
Building a whole city takes a very long time, so officials say it will be at least five to ten years before things start paying off.
MMRDA has been appointed the New Town Development Authority for Third Mumbai, officially the Karnala-Sai Chirner (KSC) New Town, spanning 323.44 sq km over 124 villages.
The new city will sit in the influence area of the Atal Setu sea bridge and the Navi Mumbai International Airport, created to capture the land value from the public infrastructure.
Land acquisition began in March 2026, with villagers offered 22.5% developed land, cash, TDR, or FSI as compensation; several villages oppose the project as a 'land grab.'
Singapore-based Surbana Jurong has been hired to plan the city's layout, transport, and utilities, with the masterplan expected within six months.
Experts point to Navi Mumbai's missing mass rapid transport as a warning, saying Third Mumbai needs very fast transit (about 200 kmph) to succeed as a satellite city.
- Who
- The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), appointed as the New Town Development Authority, with villagers in Raigad district opposing the land acquisition.
- What
- The planning and development of Third Mumbai, officially Karnala-Sai Chirner (KSC) New Town, a 323.44 sq km planned city across 124 villages.
- When
- The idea emerged around the Atal Setu's opening in early 2024; land acquisition began in March 2026, the land use plan is expected by August end, and the masterplan within six months.
- Where
- Uran, Pen, and Panvel talukas of Raigad district in Maharashtra, within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
- Why
- To capture the land value created by the Atal Setu and the Navi Mumbai International Airport, make the Rs 17,000 crore bridge viable, and provide a planned alternative to decongest Mumbai.
Critics and Opposing Villagers
MMRDA and Government
Land acquisition
Critics and Opposing Villagers
Several villages oppose the project as a 'land grab' and have delayed the land use plan by holding back ground-truthing surveys.
MMRDA and Government
The MMRDA began acquisition in March 2026, offering compensation options of 22.5% developed land, monetary payment, TDR, or FSI.
Satellite city viability
Critics and Opposing Villagers
Expert Gulam Zia says mass rapid transport was left out of Navi Mumbai's planning and that Third Mumbai needs very fast transit (about 200 kmph) to work as a satellite city.
MMRDA and Government
MMRDA officials say city-making is a long-term plan and that returns will pour in five to ten years after basic infrastructure is in place.
- Project
- Third Mumbai (Karnala-Sai Chirner / KSC New Town)
- Area
- 323.44 sq km across 124 villages
- Location
- Uran, Pen and Panvel talukas, Raigad district, Maharashtra
- Development authority
- MMRDA (New Town Development Authority)
- Key infrastructure
- Atal Setu (21.8 km sea bridge) and Navi Mumbai International Airport
- Masterplan consultant
- Surbana Jurong (Singapore-based)
- Land acquisition started
- March 2026
- Atal Setu cost
- Rs 17,000 crore