MMRDA, Mumbai | Monday, June 20, 2022
A 5-day Sustainable Urbanisation Planning workshop was organised by Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and the European Union (EU) under the India - EU Urban Partnership on Smart and Sustainable Urbanisation. The EU, which consists of 27 countries, has the world's second-largest economy and its third-largest population, after China and India. Though richly diverse, the countries that make up the EU (its 'Member States') are all committed to the same basic values: peace, democracy, the rule of law, and respect for human rights. By creating a frontier-free single market and a single currency (the Euro) which has been adopted by 19 Member States, the EU has given a significant boost to trade and employment.
Shri. Bhushan Gagrani, Addl. Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, Shri. S.V.R. Srinivas, Addl. Chief Secretary & Metropolitan Commissioner, Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), and Mr. Narinder Nayar, Chairman, Mumbai First were present at the Inauguration ceremony of the workshop held on 20 June 2022 in MMRDA building at Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai. Counsellor Ms. Kamilla Kristensen Rai, Delegation of the European Union joined the program virtually. With a focus on Metropolitan planning, the intensive workshop provided inputs to support sustainable and resilient urbanisation of Mumbai.
The workshop, led by renowned European Urban Planner Mr. Pedro Ortiz, was held till 24th June at MMRDA premises. The aim of the Sustainable Urbanisation Planning workshop was to co-create a list of bankable projects and recommendations with all participants that aligned and supported the implementation of MMR’s Regional Plan.
Forty participants representing key stakeholders attended the 5-day workshop. Participants included representatives from Mumbai Metropolitan Region, such as MMRDA, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, Mumbai Port Trust, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, City & Industrial Development Corp., and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), due to its vast area, economic significance, and vulnerability to climate issues has been identified as one of the six metropolises for the workshop. A forward-looking approach is required to ensure a smart, resilient, and sustainable growth trajectory for Mumbai.