In 2025, surveys will commence to develop Karnala-Sai-Chirner New Town (KSC New Town), also known as Third Mumbai, in Raigad district of Maharashtra. The project aims to enhance connectivity and reduce travel time between Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

Spanning 323.44 sq. km across 124 villages, the area includes hills, forests, and farmland. It is set to house 65 percent of the nation’s data centres, positioning itself as a tech hub. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has invited applications from private firms to conduct aerial surveys and ground studies using drones, Lidar technology, and GIS mapping. These surveys will provide land ownership data and other critical inputs.

A separate consultant will draft a vision document, a master plan, and a detailed development strategy for KSC New Town. The comprehensive plan is expected by August 2026, with initial surveys taking six to eight months.

In September, the MMRDA and the World Economic Forum signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the region’s economic expansion. The concept of Third Mumbai was first outlined in 2013.