Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde, Mumbai Suburban Guardian Minister Ashish Shelar, and Mahendra Kalyankar, CEO of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), presented a set of proposals for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) on Friday (May 22, 2026). They said the region would contribute ₹1.7 lakh crore to Maharashtra’s economy by 2047, driven by decentralisation, a 377-km metro network, and a housing plan that targets slum dwellers with 300 square feet rehabilitation units.

Speaking at a panel on the expanding metropolis during The Hindu Maharashtra Infrastructure Conclave, Mr. Shinde said MMR has received around ₹4 lakh crore in funds. Data centres and logistics hubs in Navi Mumbai, along with a port at Vadhavan, would create jobs and reduce the pressure on Mumbai, he added. The 377-km metro, he pointed out, would be the largest such network in the world.

Mr. Shinde also said that Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC), Ambernath, and Ulhasnagar corporations have unified their road and water transport systems. A water metro and a road from Badlapur to Navi Mumbai are being developed, along with an access-controlled expressway that provides connectivity within 10 minutes. Water transport through 101 waterways is also planned, the MP further said. He announced that a metro service for Thane would be approved soon, while work on the Kalyan metro is already underway.

New BEST buses

Ashish Shelar, Guardian Minister for Mumbai suburbs, acknowledged that the 437 sq. km. area in the city has challenges that will not be resolved in a short period. He said the BEST bus service, a legacy of the city, had suffered due to decisions of the previous government led by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, which reduced the fleet. The current administration has increased funds for the transportation administration and allowed the department more operational space, he said. A remapping of connectivity routes is in progress, and more than 1,000 new buses have been added to the BEST fleet, with the rest to be delivered in four years.

Mahendra Kalyankar outlined the housing and redevelopment initiatives in the sprawling city. He said Mumbai is the only city in the world to provide 300 sq. ft. rehabilitation houses for slum dwellers, with the target of five lakh such houses to be built by 2030, wherein 2.97 lakh have already been delivered. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is working on 39 rehabilitation projects on its lands.

Dharavi redevelopment

On the Dharavi redevelopment project, Mr. Kalyankar said it will be a multi-modal project with metro connectivity and a skill development component. The BMC has taken up the beautification of the Mithi river, and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), along with SRA, is developing a park at Ramabai Ambedkar site in Vikhroli using a cluster approach, he added.