Thousands of farmers gathered at the Chirner Jungle Satyagraha Hutatma Smarak; the convention drew residents from 124 villages across Uran, Panvel and Pen. They vowed to resist the ₹4,000-crore MMRDA Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, also called Third Mumbai, through legal, democratic and public means.

The gathering followed approval of Singapore-based Surbana Jurong Infrastructure Pte Ltd as general consultant to prepare the master plan. Virodhi Samiti general secretary Rupesh Patil alleged that nearly 25,000 objections filed after the project’s March 4, 2024 notification were ignored before approval of the land policy.

Farmers rejected compensation options of cash, TDR, FSI or 22.5% developed-land return, introduced by a March 16 Government Resolution. They demanded implementation of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and raised concerns over rehabilitation, gaothan expansion and property rights. MMRDA said the project followed statutory procedures and would balance planned urban growth with village and community interests.

Thousands of farmers from Raigad district gathered at Chirner’s Martyrs’ Memorial in Uran on Sunday, organised by the KSC New Town Project Opposition Committee. They pledged to intensify their two-year protest against alleged forced land acquisition for the proposed Third Mumbai, or Karnala-Sai-Chirner New Town, planned by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority.

The project covers 198 revenue villages in the talukas of Uran, Panvel, Pen, Karjat and Alibag. Former judge and activist B.G. Kolse Patil warned of a stronger movement if authorities proceeded without adequately consulting affected communities. He questioned compensation, village grazing-land rights and promises to return 22.5% land to farmers. Former MLA Manohar Bhoir and activists Vaishali Patil and Ulka Mahajan also addressed the gathering. Participants remembered the Chirner martyrs and pledged to expand the movement; further demonstrations and legal challenges may follow.

Maharashtra’s cabinet approved a 22.5% land-pooling policy for the Karnala–Sai–Chirner (KSC) New Town on February 10. The proposed “Third Mumbai” spans nearly 323 sq km and 124 villages across Uran, Panvel and Pen talukas in Raigad district.

At a February 14 meeting, the MMRDA KSC Navnagar Virodhi Samiti resolved to oppose the policy. It urged gram panchayats to pass resolutions against the decision and send them to the state government. Planned actions include village meetings, awareness campaigns, rallies, public gatherings and a district-level convention; leaders said they could march to Mantralaya in March if demands are ignored. Sudhakar Patil is the Samiti’s president; Rupesh Patil is its general secretary.

Landowners would surrender land for 22.5% of developed plots, with compensation options of transferable development rights, additional floor space index or monetary payment. Non-consenting owners’ land may be acquired under the 2013 land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement Act. Farmer representatives object to pass-through recovery of acquisition, infrastructure and administrative costs, priority allotments for large industrial and infrastructure projects, including those with foreign direct investment, and possible “as-is-where-is” allotments. They cite displacement, livelihood disruption, uncertain infrastructure timelines and inadequate rehabilitation guarantees.

The state says the project will decongest Mumbai, guide urbanisation and create economic hubs in the Atal Setu impact zone. MMRDA is the development authority; officials say statutory procedures and public consultations were followed.

‘Third Mumbai’, also called Mumbai 3.0 or Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, is a proposed urban centre in Raigad and partly Thane district. Announced in 2013 and formalised in October 2024, it spans 324 sq km and is envisioned as three times larger than Mumbai.

Planned components include Edu City, Medic City, Innovation City, knowledge and cybersecurity hubs focused on AI and quantum computing, and zones for data centres, multinational companies and corporate offices. Edu City is proposed to host 12 foreign universities and serve more than 100,000 students; Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said seven global universities had come in and five more were on the way.

Coastal Road, Atal Setu and Worli-Sewri Link Road are to connect the town with Mumbai. Planned links include suburban rail extensions under MUTP 4, roads and metro connectors. MMRDA will be the nodal development body; NTDA will oversee planning, land use and policy coordination. The initiative proposes public-private partnerships, fast-tracked clearances and investor-friendly policies.

Maharashtra appointed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) as New Town Development Authority for the Third Mumbai project, renamed Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town. The planned township covers 124 villages across 323 sq. km in Navi Mumbai and Raigad district, including the Karnala Bird Sanctuary, Sai and Chirner regions. It is expected to include residential, commercial and mixed-use development, Smart City features, transport networks, social amenities and recreational facilities. The forthcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, Atal Setu’s Navi Mumbai end and other planned infrastructure are expected to support demand, investment and job creation. CREDAI-MCHI Raigad president Rajesh Prajapati said corporates, multinationals and technology firms are eyeing Navi Mumbai for offices because of the airport, with regional demand expected to rise in coming years. Industry representatives described KSC as a potential growth corridor and Raigad micro-market.