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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 7:24:18 pm

Panvel: MMR’s next economic hub

Panvel is now emerging as a multi-modal gateway linking Mumbai’s commercial economy with Navi Mumbai’s airport, JNPA’s port ecosystem and Raigad’s industrial belt Mumbai: For centuries, Panvel’s importance came from its location. The town grew around land and sea trade routes and was historically known for its rice market. Today, that same locational advantage is being recast in a dramatically different economic landscape — one shaped by an international airport, a major container port,...

Panvel: MMR’s next economic hub

Panvel is now emerging as a multi-modal gateway linking Mumbai’s commercial economy with Navi Mumbai’s airport, JNPA’s port ecosystem and Raigad’s industrial belt Mumbai: For centuries, Panvel’s importance came from its location. The town grew around land and sea trade routes and was historically known for its rice market. Today, that same locational advantage is being recast in a dramatically different economic landscape — one shaped by an international airport, a major container port, expressways, freight corridors, railways and expanding urban infrastructure. Panvel is consequently moving from being a transit point between Mumbai, Pune and the Konkan to becoming a destination in its own right. “Panvel can no longer be viewed merely as a residential extension of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. It is fast becoming a commercial and economic destination in its own right,” said Prashant Thakur, MLA, Panvel Assembly Constituency. The transformation is not entirely new. Panvel is around 300 years old and its evolution was closely linked to trade and transportation. Its commercial DNA, therefore, predates the development of Navi Mumbai by several decades. What has changed is the scale and quality of connectivity around it. The development of Navi Mumbai from the 1970s brought planned nodes such as New Panvel, Kharghar, Kamothe, Kalamboli and Taloja into a rapidly urbanising landscape. The creation of the Panvel Municipal Corporation in 2016 further expanded the administrative footprint, bringing the old town and several rapidly developing areas within one municipal framework. That expansion is now meeting an unprecedented infrastructure build-out. Panvel’s Geography Panvel’s strongest advantage is not any single project but the convergence of several major transport systems. The Mumbai–Pune Expressway and Sion–Panvel corridor connect it with Mumbai and Pune, while the Mumbai–Goa highway provides access towards the Konkan. Close by are JNPA, the Navi Mumbai International Airport and the wider Navi Mumbai urban economy. Then came the 21.8-km Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri–Nhava Sheva Atal Setu. Opened to traffic in January 2024, the bridge has strengthened the physical and economic connection between Mumbai and the Navi Mumbai–Panvel–Raigad region. For Panvel, its significance extends beyond shorter travel times. It has expanded the geography within which companies can locate offices, warehouses, hotels and support businesses. “The coming decade can establish Panvel and its surrounding region as one of India’s most dynamic economic growth centres,” said Thakur. “An international airport, a world-class port ecosystem, highways, railways, Metro connectivity and Atal Setu are creating an economic ecosystem of enormous potential.” The Navi Mumbai International Airport has added another dimension to this transformation. With commercial operations commencing in December 2025 and international connectivity subsequently being added, the airport corridor has moved from being a long-term infrastructure proposition to an operating economic ecosystem. For Panvel, the airport effect could extend well beyond residential real estate. An international airport generates demand for business hotels, corporate offices, aviation-linked services, logistics, retail, hospitality, healthcare and other ancillary businesses. The emerging airport corridor is already changing the development narrative across Panvel, Ulwe, Kharghar, Taloja, Karanjade, New Panvel and Dronagiri. Perhaps the most distinctive element of Panvel’s economic proposition is its proximity to two major gateways — JNPA and NMIA. JNPA is integrated into the national freight network and is supported by road and rail connectivity, including the Dedicated Freight Corridor. The wider port ecosystem is also being strengthened through improved road links and connectivity towards Panvel and the airport. This gives the region a natural advantage in logistics, warehousing and supply-chain activity. The opportunity extends into the wider Raigad industrial belt, including Taloja, Patalganga, Roha and surrounding manufacturing clusters. For chemical and manufacturing companies, Panvel can potentially serve as a commercial and logistics gateway. Proximity to JNPA can facilitate the movement of imported raw materials, equipment and chemical feedstock, while road and freight connectivity can support distribution to domestic markets. The future opportunity could also extend beyond bulk chemicals to specialty chemicals, pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, chemical equipment and downstream manufacturing. NMIA adds another layer by improving access for high-value and time-sensitive products, corporate executives, technical specialists and international business. However, such growth would require planned industrial infrastructure — including common utilities, effluent treatment, hazardous-material handling, waste management, water recycling and emergency-response systems. Commercial Model Mumbai’s traditional commercial districts face constraints of land availability, high real-estate costs and congestion. Panvel, by contrast, can offer larger land parcels and the possibility of integrated development around multiple transport modes. This opens the door to a different commercial model — large office campuses, mixed-use developments, business parks, hotels, logistics facilities, institutional campuses and specialised industrial offices. Healthcare and education could become equally important components of this ecosystem. Thakur said the development of Medicity and Educity, along with emerging concepts such as Innovation City and Third Mumbai, could further alter the economic geography of the Panvel–Pen region. “Kharghar is also emerging as an important commercial destination, with plans for a new business centre. All these developments point towards one clear conclusion: Panvel is not merely a residential growth corridor; it is becoming a commercial and economic destination,” he said. Jobs Drive Inclusion The real test of Panvel’s transformation, however, will be the employment ecosystem it creates. The airport, logistics sector, IT and digital services, healthcare, hospitality, construction, engineering, financial services and emerging industries can generate opportunities across a broad range of skill levels. “Our youth must be the biggest beneficiaries of this transformation,” said Thakur. “I want the young people of Panvel not merely to witness this transformation, but to participate in it, benefit from it and eventually lead it.” That would require greater emphasis on technical education, industry-oriented training, skill development and employability programmes. An emerging education ecosystem could also create opportunities for specialised disciplines such as chemical engineering, biotechnology, materials science, aviation services and industrial research. The challenge is to build infrastructure ahead of demand. The scale of the opportunity also brings a significant planning challenge. As commercial activity and population increase, Panvel will need adequate water supply, electricity, roads, public transport, sewage systems, waste management, healthcare, education and other civic infrastructure. Rapid urbanisation without corresponding infrastructure capacity could undermine some of the advantages that are currently attracting investment. “Growth must be supported by quality infrastructure,” Thakur said. “Infrastructure capacity must grow ahead of demand rather than struggle to catch up with it.” The proposed Panvel Development Plan for 2024–2044 assumes a much larger urban footprint and seeks to provide a longer-term framework for managing growth. The challenge will be to ensure that infrastructure planning keeps pace with the speed at which private and public investment is reshaping the region. Panvel’s transformation is therefore not simply another real-estate story. Its significance lies in the convergence of its past and future: a centuries-old trading town is now located at the intersection of an international airport, one of India’s major container ports, national highways, the Mumbai–Pune economic corridor, freight infrastructure, suburban rail and metropolitan expansion. Economic Centre Mumbai has traditionally been the economic centre, while Navi Mumbai was developed as its planned counterpoint. Panvel is now emerging as the bridge between that established metropolitan economy and the next growth geography stretching towards Raigad. “Panvel is changing. Panvel is connecting. Panvel is creating opportunities. And Panvel is now emerging as a new commercial address on the global map,” said Thakur. The real shift is from transit to destination. If infrastructure investment is matched by integrated planning, employment generation, social amenities and sustainable industrial development, Panvel could evolve into something more significant than a residential extension of Mumbai or Navi Mumbai: a multi-modal commercial and socio-economic hub serving the entire MMR–Raigad corridor.

Modi @ 25: A Quarter Century of National Service, Development and Pride

Writer: Eknath Shinde
Eknath Shinde
10 hours ago
5 min read

On October 7, 2001, Narendra Modi, a dedicated servant of the nation, took over as Gujarat’s Chief Minister. The career of service began and led to the office of Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014. Looking back, this 25-year trip has become a chapter in the country’s shifting political, social, and developmental journey.


It is a journey reflecting the growing confidence of 1.4 billion Indians. On this occasion, on behalf of Maharashtra’s 130 million people and the Shiv Sena, I express my warm congratulations and best wishes to the Prime Minister.


Influential Voice

The voice that emerged from the soil of Vadnagar has today become an influential voice representing India’s position on the global stage. During his tenure as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Modi took several important decisions for the development of the state. He assumed office against the backdrop of the devastating Bhuj earthquake. The pace of rehabilitation, reconstruction and rebuilding in Bhuj and the Kutch region was accelerated.


In 2003, he launched the ‘Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.’ Through this, major companies and industrialists from across the world were encouraged to invest in Gujarat. The Gujarat model appealed to the people of the country.


There is a significant difference between India before 2014 and India after 2014. When the Prime Minister of a country changes, it is not merely the government that changes but the future of the country. And that is precisely the transformation that took place after 2014.


Dramatic Transformation

Through the Jan Dhan Yojana, efforts were made to connect a large number of citizens with the banking system. Direct Benefit Transfer and the digitization of government services received a major boost. Through the Swachh Bharat Mission, emphasis was placed on sanitation and the construction of toilets. Through schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission and PM-KISAN, the government undertook historic work in areas including housing, clean cooking fuel, piped water supply and direct financial assistance to farmers.


The expansion of Digital India and UPI brought about a major transformation in the field of digital transactions. Initiatives such as Make in India, Startup India and Atmanirbhar Bharat are giving a boost to domestic manufacturing, investment and entrepreneurship.


The New Education Policy, new criminal laws and the law against triple talaq were also introduced during the Modi government’s tenure. The Modi government also demonstrated the political courage to take the historic decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.


Alongside the development agenda, efforts were also made during this period to bring India’s cultural heritage to the centre stage. The construction of the Shri Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the grand ceremony of the consecration of Ram Lalla, the development of Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Mahakal Lok, as well as the development of various pilgrimage sites, have highlighted religious tourism and cultural heritage.


Women’s empowerment has been another important component of the Central Government’s development agenda. From Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao to Lakhpati Didi, and from Ujjwala and Mudra to self-help groups, various schemes have been implemented to increase women’s economic and social participation.


In Maharashtra too, the Mahayuti government has taken several decisions in the same direction for women’s empowerment, whether it is the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana or the decision to provide higher education to girls.


Foreign Policy

There have also been several important developments in the areas of national security and foreign policy during the Modi government’s tenure. India has adopted a more assertive position on the issue of cross-border terrorism. On issues such as BRICS, the Global South, climate change, digital technology, yoga and international cooperation, India has articulated its own distinct position.


Today, India’s voice is firmly heard on major global platforms. Our growing economic, strategic and diplomatic capabilities have gained significance. The credit for creating a new and capable identity for India at the international level goes to PM Modi. That is why he has been honoured with the highest civilian awards of nearly 36 countries.


The 12-year period of the Central Government under the leadership of PM Modi has also been important for Maharashtra’s infrastructure and economic development. The assistance received by Maharashtra from the Centre has not been limited merely to funding; it has also helped accelerate several long-term projects.


Between 2004 and 2014, the decade before 2014, the Central Government provided Rs. 2 lakh crore for development works in Maharashtra. Between 2014 and 2024, Maharashtra received Rs. 12 lakh crore in funding.


There has also been a substantial increase in railway allocations. The average annual allocation during 2009–2014 was Rs. 1,171 crore, while in 2026–27 it has reached Rs. 23,926 crore.


At present, infrastructure projects worth approximately Rs. 1.5 lakh crore are underway in the state. Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, redevelopment work is underway at 128 railway stations.


Projects such as the Atal Setu, Samruddhi Mahamarg, Mumbai Coastal Road, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train, and the Rs. 76,000-crore Vadhavan Port are in every sense game-changing projects for Maharashtra.


Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, houses for 18 lakh poor families had been completed by May 2026. Through the Jal Jeevan Mission, the proportion of rural households receiving piped water supply increased from 33 per cent to 89 per cent. Eligible farmers in the state are receiving direct financial assistance through the PM-KISAN scheme.


The state’s cultural and historical identity has also received importance through decisions taken by the Central Government. The inclusion of the historic forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the UNESCO World Heritage List, the development of the Panch Teerth associated with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, and the decision to grant classical language status to Marathi are important milestones for Maharashtra.


The late Shiv Sena chief, Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray, had on several occasions clearly articulated his position regarding the politics of Hindutva in the context of Gujarat and Narendra Modi. The dialogue surrounding Hindutva has a long history in the political journeys of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Therefore, this thread of political and social relations between Maharashtra and Narendra Modi is also significant.


It is my great fortune that I have been blessed with the personal affection of the respected Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as has my entire family. The affection shown to me by Modi filled the void created in my life by the passing of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray and Dharmaveer Anand Dighe and gave me tremendous strength.


At every meeting, he asks me, “Kaise hain Eknathji?” and places his hand on my shoulder. At that moment, a new confidence emerges, a new sense of hope is created, and I gain the strength to work with even greater determination for Maharashtra’s progress. This bond of affection will always remain special to me.


For the past 25 years, PM Modi has worked continuously, tirelessly and relentlessly with the determination to build a New India. Despite the poisonous and hateful criticism from opponents, attempts at character assassination, baseless allegations of polarisation and verbal attacks from all sides, he has never allowed his eyes to stray from his goal.


This journey is an important chapter in the political and developmental journey of a changing India. From Gujarat to Delhi, and from there towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, this journey is now looking towards its next phase.


The vision seeks to create an India that provides opportunities to the poor, gives wings to the dreams of its youth, provides women with equal opportunities and leadership, and takes pride in its cultural heritage.


Recently, while speaking with the Prime Minister, Captain Smit Machhar, who saved the lives of 174 aircraft passengers by displaying presence of mind, said that he had drawn inspiration from the Prime Minister. Such incidents highlight the personal influence of Modi’s leadership and the image he has created in the public consciousness.


My heartfelt best wishes to Modi ji for his journey ahead. I pray that God blesses him with good health, a long life and immense strength to continue serving the nation.


(The writer is Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Views personal.)

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