Archive · 9 Aug 2026
Raj Thackeray and Shinde Clash Over Third Mumbai Plans
In the Indian state of Maharashtra, leaders are arguing about a big new city called 'Third Mumbai.'
A man named Raj Thackeray is upset because he says the government is not telling people what is going on.
He worries that local families who own land will lose it.
He says people from other states know more about the plan than people in Maharashtra.
Another leader, Eknath Shinde, says the new city will be great.
It will have a new airport, hospitals, schools, and places for companies to work.
He says it will create more jobs for young people.
Both leaders want what is best, but they disagree about how the new city will help or hurt the people who live there.
MNS chief Raj Thackeray accused the Maharashtra government of keeping locals in the dark about the proposed 'Third Mumbai' smart city.
Third Mumbai, formally the Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, is planned across roughly 323-334 sq km and 124 villages in Raigad district.
Thackeray claimed land from Pen, Panvel and Uran talukas is being taken from locals and that land-related transactions are destroying livelihoods.
Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde defended the project, saying planning is systematic and internationally benchmarked, including a new airport, Aero City and Medi City.
Shinde said Third Mumbai aims to decongest the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and create jobs and new opportunities for local youth.
Thackeray said the planned area will include an education city, medical city, sports centre, data centre, global capability centre and research centres.
- Who
- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
- What
- A dispute over the proposed Third Mumbai (Karnala-Sai-Chirner New Town) smart city, its development plans and land acquisition.
- When
- Sunday, when Thackeray addressed a press conference and Shinde responded.
- Where
- Raigad district, Maharashtra, covering Pen, Panvel and Uran talukas.
- Why
- Thackeray says locals are being kept uninformed and harmed by land acquisition, while the government says the project will decongest Mumbai and boost economic growth, industry and jobs.
Critics (Raj Thackeray, MNS)
State Government (Eknath Shinde)
Transparency about plans
Critics (Raj Thackeray, MNS)
The government has kept common people in the dark about Third Mumbai plans, and Maharashtra's youth are not being prepared for the new city.
State Government (Eknath Shinde)
What needs to be done has already been decided, and systematic, internationally benchmarked planning is underway.
Land acquisition impact
Critics (Raj Thackeray, MNS)
Land is being taken from locals in Pen, Panvel and Uran, destroying their livelihoods, and land transactions are the only business in Maharashtra.
State Government (Eknath Shinde)
The development will boost employment and provide new opportunities for local youth.
Purpose of the new city
Critics (Raj Thackeray, MNS)
Third Mumbai will attract outsiders at the expense of local people whose land is being acquired.
State Government (Eknath Shinde)
It will decongest the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and create a new centre of Maharashtra's economic development.
- Project name
- Third Mumbai / Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town
- Location
- Coastal Raigad district, Maharashtra
- Planned area
- Approximately 323-334 sq km
- Villages covered
- 124
- Talukas where land is acquired
- Pen, Panvel and Uran
- Planned facilities
- Education city, medical city, sports centre, data centre, global capability centre, research centres
- Government developments cited
- New airport, Aero City, Medi City, large-scale growth hub
- Key figures
- Raj Thackeray (MNS chief), Eknath Shinde (Deputy CM)