Navi Mumbai: Following the state government's final notification to incorporate fourteen villages from the Khoni group of Kalyan taluka into the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) limits, the NMMC has appointed an executive engineer to oversee their development. This move comes ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and necessitates the formulation of a new development plan to provide basic services and civic amenities to these areas.

Since the establishment of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation 28 years ago, development has largely followed the plans set by the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO). With the NMMC's development plan awaiting final government approval, the inclusion of these 14 villages in March 2024 requires a dedicated approach for their development and integration into the city's infrastructure.

Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde's decision to include these villages was finalized in March 2024. In response, the NMMC has appointed an executive engineer to manage the affairs of these villages. A comprehensive development plan tailored to the newly included areas is crucial for their organized growth and proper integration into the city.

Somnath Kekan, Assistant Director of Town Planning at NMMC, stated, “The development plan of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation is ready, and now, with the addition of 14 new villages, a new development plan will be prepared for their development. The work on this plan will begin once approved by the Municipal Commissioner.”