Last Updated:February 21, 2026, 14:58 IST Eknath Shinde approves Rs 48,000-crore plan to make Thane a transport hub and Kalyan-Dombivli an urban centre, with metro, roads, and civic upgrades reshaping MMR’s growth. Eknath Shinde says BMC election results show Mumbai voters rejected anti-development politics, endorsing Mahayuti’s growth model and for the city’s transformation. (PTI) The Mumbai Metropolitan Region’s long-neglected eastern growth corridor is set for its biggest makeover yet. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has cleared a sweeping Rs 48,000-crore infrastructure plan positioning Thane as a transport nerve centre and Kalyan-Dombivli as a future urban expansion zone. The blueprint, approved at a recent MMRDA review meeting, reflects a shift in planning philosophy — from Mumbai-centric development to distributed urban growth. Officials say the strategy is simple: reduce pressure on the island city by strengthening surrounding nodes with transport, housing capacity and civic infrastructure. Recognised as Mumbai’s primary entry point from the north-east, Thane will anchor the transport strategy. The headline project is the 12-km Thane-Borivali twin tunnel, costing Rs 18,838 crore, designed to slash cross-city …