Urges J&K Govt. to focus on skill development, branding, harnessing hydropower for growth
SYED BASHARAT
MUMBAI, Oct 7: Dr. Shankar C. Deshpande, Chief, Town & Country Planning Division at the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), has emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir’s road to meaningful investment and infrastructure growth lies in skill development, branding, and professional marketing of its inherent potential.
Addressing a visiting media delegation from Jammu and Kashmir at the MMRDA headquarters in Mumbai, Dr. Deshpande underlined that a region’s success in drawing investments depends not just on its natural wealth but also on how well it builds capacity and presents itself as a reliable and modern destination. “If Jammu and Kashmir wants investments to flow in and seeks a major boost in its infrastructure growth, it must develop skills, build institutional capacity, and market its strengths with confidence,” he said.
Expressing MMRDA’s willingness to collaborate, Dr. Deshpande offered to share Mumbai’s urban planning and execution expertise with the Jammu and Kashmir administration. “MMRDA can share its best practices and technical know-how with the J&K government if it wishes so. We have decades of experience in developing urban infrastructure through transparent, efficient, and sustainable models. I am personally willing to cooperate and contribute to the region’s development,” he said.
Dr. Deshpande, who recently visited Kashmir, said he was deeply impressed by the region’s fascinating landscape and immense potential for world-class infrastructure development. He further suggested that Jammu and Kashmir could harness its vast hydroelectric potential to generate sustainable revenue for development. “Hydropower is Jammu and Kashmir’s most valuable natural asset. If harnessed strategically, it can become the backbone of the region’s resource mobilization, financing infrastructure and improving the overall quality of life,” he observed.
The interactive session, coordinated by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Mumbai, was part of an orientation visit by a media delegation from Jammu and Kashmir led by Neha Jalali, Director, PIB Jammu. The session aimed to expose journalists to Mumbai’s infrastructure revolution and the lessons it offers for other regions pursuing sustainable urban transformation.
Dr. Deshpande presented an overview of MMRDA’s comprehensive urban development strategy for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which houses over 25 million people. He explained that MMRDA’s approach combines sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation to make Mumbai a global model of modern urban growth.
Established to ensure balanced and well-coordinated development, MMRDA oversees projects across Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, and parts of Raigad district. Its long-term vision is to transform Mumbai into a modern, resilient, and globally competitive metropolis where infrastructure growth aligns with environmental and social well-being.
Dr. Deshpande elaborated on MMRDA’s latest initiatives that are reshaping Mumbai’s landscape. He highlighted that the Authority recently approved infrastructure works worth over ₹12,000 crore, primarily to accelerate metro expansion and interconnectivity. The Mumbai Metro network — one of India’s largest urban transit projects — is being expanded to ease congestion, improve last-mile connectivity, and integrate multiple corridors into a unified mobility grid.
Dr. Deshpande also spoke about MMRDA’s efforts to optimize mega projects like the Uttan-Virar sea link, which underwent design restructuring to reduce costs by nearly ₹35,000 crore. By integrating modern engineering with sustainable design, MMRDA continues to position itself at the forefront of smart and cost-effective urban development.
He emphasized that MMRDA’s success comes not only from financial investments but from the strength of its institutions, skilled manpower, and strategic governance. “We built systems that ensure accountability and coordination across departments. These systems, once localized, can work equally well in regions like Jammu and Kashmir,” Dr. Deshpande said.
Encouraging J&K to consider a phased collaboration, he suggested that pilot projects in Srinagar or Jammu could be initiated under MMRDA’s guidance to demonstrate efficient project planning, community rehabilitation, and sustainable design principles. “Every successful development journey begins with well-trained people, clear governance, and long-term vision. J&K has the potential; it only needs to integrate these factors,” he asserted.
As the interaction concluded, Dr. Shankar C. Deshpande reiterated that the MMRDA experience is not merely a story of infrastructure, but of planning discipline and institutional innovation. “Mumbai’s transformation is the result of decades of consistent planning and skilled execution,” he said. “If Jammu and Kashmir builds on its own natural strengths, backed by proper skill development, branding, and marketing, it can emerge as a national model of sustainable and inclusive growth.”
The session was attended by MMRD officers and PIB officers from Mumbai.
