MMR today does not have recreational facilities to meet the needs of its population: Niti Aayog | Thane News

Mumbai: Although the country’s spending population Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is growing rapidly, with nearly 30% of its population expected to fall into the Rs 12 lakh-plus household income category by FY2030, the region does not have adequate public recreational facilities to meet the needs of its population even in 2023 (for example, less than 1.6 sq m of open space per capita). Mumbai The city’s area in 2023 will be 1.5 square metres, compared to 8 square metres in Singapore), said Policy Commissionreport of Economic Master Plan For mmr,
According to the report, the region will receive 150 million air passengers per year by 2030, indicating immense potential in terms of tourism. By 2023, MMR will receive 5 million domestic, 1 million premium tourists and 1.5 million foreign tourists every year, with most staying for less than 1-2 days due to severe shortages. Tourist attractions The report stated that,
The report said that MMR’s key tourism and recreation assets, such as its 300-km-long coastline, entertainment capitals like Bollywood, colonial architecture and monuments, and eco-spots like Sanjay Gandhi National Park, flamingos and mangrove belts, are grossly underutilised. The report also suggested that there is potential to increase tourism and recreation revenues by up to $60 billion and gross value added (GVA) by about $20 billion by 2030, considering an average tourist spend over a four-day stay period.
According to the report, this development can be accelerated by adopting a four-fold strategy by creating a master plan and prioritising tourism themes such as beach coastal and cruise tourism (MMR has over 20 beaches), meetings, incentive conferences and events/exhibitions (MICE) tourism, nature tourism, culture heritage and fort tourism, entertainment and film tourism, wellness and medical tourism, and civic and tourist infrastructure. The report has suggested that Kashid including Gorai, Madh Island and Alibaug can be brought on the beach, spiritual and wellness tourism map. The report has also suggested that Shirgaon and Advan beaches near Palghar and Bhuigaon beach near Vasai have tourism potential
to increase the MICE Tourism2 million sq ft international exhibition and convention centre space or about 15,000 additional hotel rooms will have to be developed near the Aerocity in Navi Mumbai. The report suggests that the nature circuit may include a national park, Tungareshwar sanctuary near Palghar, Kharghar hill plateau, Karnala bird sanctuary, mangrove and flamingo tourism along Airoli, besides developing kayaking, boating and trekking circuits around areas of MMR.
The report suggests a complete revival of the Film City. “The existing Film City at Goregaon is old, dilapidated, and does not offer any exciting activities for tourists. Also, tourist attraction towards cultural heritage sites is limited to Kala Ghoda, Prithvi Theatre, Colaba and CST Terminus, Elephanta and Gateway, which are too congested and poorly maintained to attract premium tourists. Although Mumbai’s rich historical heritage has immense potential, infrastructure challenges such as accessibility, conservation and improvement in visitor amenities are preventing access. To dramatically change its image, other cultural attraction sites apart from iconic sites such as Crawford Market and Zaveri Bazaar should undergo revival with landscaped pavements and walkways like the Copacabana beach complex in Brazil,” the report said.
Apart from Bandra, Worli and Mahim forts, the MMR’s fort circuit can be extended to the iconic Raigad Fort by adding public amenities, light and sound shows and attractive tourist spots, the report said. “A world-class film city can be developed near Goregaon/Andheri with Bollywood Broadway, prestigious studios, event venues and theatres.
Music festivals and festivals like Lollapalooza, Sunburn can attract tourists by developing world-class event venues. Additionally, creating a 40 million capacity oceanarium on the MTHL influence zone or Mumbai Port Trust land,” it has proposed. The report also suggests building a 200-hectare world-class themed adventure park south of Mumbai Eye and Navi Mumbai, which will have resorts, animation studios, ride zones, water parks and Disneyland-like event venues. It also suggests building a Medicity near the new airport in Navi Mumbai and setting up culinary districts with a variety of restaurants on the seafront and rooftop terraces, apart from food streets and craft brewery districts in urban clusters. Five new multi-sport academies and a golf course have also been recommended.
Events such as monsoon, global arts, food and cruising festivals should be planned along with concerts or sports events, the report said, suggesting that a strong tourism policy for private sector activation targeting private sector investment of up to $7 billion and government investment of about Rs 8000 crore can bring tourism in MMR at par with global destinations. In MMR, tourism agencies such as mmrdaCIDCO, MCGM, NMMC and TMC can play an active role in creating attractions.
NITI Aayog’s recommendations to improve tourism and recreation in MMR:

Every city in MMR should have the following facilities as MMR is four times behind Singapore in terms of availability of open space per capita: