History of Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai, also referred to as New Bombay is one of the best-planned cities in India. It is located off the western coast of Maharashtra, India. Navi Mumbai has been divided into two important parts which include the Northern Navi Mumbai and the Southern Navi Mumbai. The reason behind this was the development of the Panvel Mega City that includes the area of Kharghar and Uran. Navi Mumbai is low in pollution and offers affordable housing facilities which have allowed immigrants coming to Maharashtra and leaving the state to reside here.

Navi Mumbai also has an excellent location and a wonderful infrastructure. This city is also considered to be the entry point for Mumbai. Navi Mumbai ranks 12th in hygiene and cleanliness. Navi Mumbai has a number of colleges that offer courses in hotel management, interior designing, engineering, medical science, etc. This place is also the most active and busiest business hub of the country.

After India gained her independence, the country experienced a huge urban growth within just 25 years. Bombay was also a part of this huge urban growth. Greater Bombay's population started rising significantly. Due to this population growth, the industrial and the commercial importance of the city increased.

A majority of the people who were living in Bombay faced this deterioration. The development inputs were unable to keep pace with the industry, growing population, trade, commerce, etc. There were also many physical limitations as the city was built on a narrow peninsula that had hardly any connection with the mainland.

The Maharashtra Government was well aware of all the problems that were emerging in this metropolis. A number of vigilant opinions and constructive suggestions were given by the press and the public. These were the things that kept all these problems away from public. In the year 1958, the government decided to start a study group with Shri S.G. Barve as the chairman.

This study group was appointed to consider all the problems that were related to traffic congestion, no availability of open spaces, shortage of housing facilities and suggest measures in order to deal with all these problems.

This group recommended the construction of a railroad cum bridge that would connect the mainland to the peninsula of Bombay. According to the group, this bridge was capable of accelerating the development across Thane Creek, and relieve a lot of pressure on the railways of the city along with the roadways.

These could even draw the concentration of industries and residential areas towards the mainland. This recommendation was accepted by the Government of Maharashtra.

There was another committee that was formed with Professor D.R Gadgil as the chairman. He was the Director of Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics. This committee wanted to form principles to plan the area regionally. The recommendations made by the Gadgil Committee had greatly affected the planning of Navi Mumbai.

These recommendations included the industry decentralization with a number of restrictions to prevent the growth of other industries and the mainland area to be developed as the multi-nucleated settlements.

In the year 1966, the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act was passed, which came to force in the year 1967, in January. A twin city development was proposed. This would lead the population and the jobs to reallocate to the mainland.

A new port was established on the recommendation of the Bombay Port Trust after the Thane Bridge was completed. This port was named Nhava Sheva. According to the board, Navi Mumbai could accommodate the population of around 21 lacs.