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When you hear “Mumbai,” you tend to think of the island city, the Western Suburbs, the Bandra-Kurla Complex, and perhaps the monsoon-waterlogged roads. But the government of Maharashtra is now planning an expansion: two entirely new cities (or city-regions) that could change how we think of Mumbai altogether. They have been labelled “Third Mumbai” and “Fourth Mumbai.”
Mumbai is preparing for its biggest transformation yet. With the announcement of Third Mumbai and Fourth Mumbai, Maharashtra is taking bold steps to ease the pressure on its financial capital and build the cities of the future.
These ambitious projects will expand the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), creating new centers of innovation, investment, and infrastructure that can rival the world’s best.
Once, Mumbai meant just the island city and its suburban sprawl. Later came Navi Mumbai, often called Second Mumbai to handle the city’s explosive growth. Now, a new chapter begins with plans for two more cities that will redefine urban India.
Third Mumbai: A High-Tech City Near the New Airport
Planned near the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport in Raigad district, Third Mumbai will cover 323.44 sq. km within the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA). It will include 124 villages connected through major infrastructure corridors like the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu) and the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has described it as “India’s next-gen city.” The plan is to create a complete ecosystem that combines learning, innovation, healthcare, and sports. Key zones include:
- Edu-City, housing 10 international-level universities
- Medicine City, for world-class healthcare and research
- Sports City, for training and global events
- Innovation and Knowledge Cities, to support startups and R&D
- A Cyber Security Centre, preparing for future digital challenges
Third Mumbai isn’t meant to be a satellite city. It’s being built as a new hub for global talent, technology, and investment, an urban ecosystem designed from scratch.
Fourth Mumbai: India’s Port City of the Future
To the north, Fourth Mumbai is taking shape near Vadhavan Port in Palghar district, around 140 km from South Mumbai and close to the Maharashtra-Gujarat border.
The centerpiece of this plan is the Vadhavan Port, expected to be three times the size of JNPT, India’s busiest container terminal. Developed under a public-private partnership by Vadhavan Port Project Ltd (VPPL), the port involves an investment of ?76,220 crore.
The surrounding region will be developed as a fully integrated smart city, supported by:
- A proposed Greenfield international airport (feasibility studies are already underway)
- An extended bullet train corridor for high-speed connectivity
- Coastal roads linking the port to the Mumbai network
Fourth Mumbai will mirror the planning model of Third Mumbai, with dedicated zones for education, healthcare, sports, and innovation. With its deep-water port and cutting-edge infrastructure, the city is being positioned as India’s answer to Rotterdam and Singapore, a maritime hub with global ambitions.
Beyond Mumbai: A Statewide Growth Strategy
Maharashtra’s vision goes far beyond the Mumbai region. At the 2025 India Conference by Bank of America, CM Fadnavis presented an extensive industrial roadmap to reshape the state’s economy.
Some highlights:
- Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) is emerging as a major EV manufacturing hub.
- Gadchiroli is expected to attract investments worth Rs. 1 lakh crore to become a steel production powerhouse.
- Nagpur, Nashik, and Dhule are evolving into key centers for IT, infrastructure, and manufacturing.
The Chief Minister also noted Maharashtra’s dominance in the data economy, 60% of India’s data center capacity is based here, with Mumbai at the heart of the country’s fintech ecosystem.
Maharashtra’s Vision 2029–2047
The state has laid out a long-term roadmap that aligns with India’s development goals. It unfolds in three phases:
- Maharashtra 2029 – Short-term targets for rapid economic acceleration
- Maharashtra 2035 – Expansion of infrastructure, industry, and jobs
- Maharashtra 2047 – A futuristic plan marking India’s 100 years of independence
The government aims to integrate Artificial Intelligence, smart governance, and cyber security into the state’s core planning. A specialized Advanced Cyber Defence Centre is also on the cards to safeguard the digital future.
With Third and Fourth Mumbai, Maharashtra is not just adding new districts to its map, it’s building engines of growth designed for the 21st century.
These projects combine smart city design, global-standard infrastructure, and sustainable planning to attract talent and investment from around the world. They promise to create a new model of urban India, where technology meets liveability, and opportunity meets innovation.
