New Bombay was a project that was begun by the Bombay Development Department as a satellite, or New Town. It was then handed over to the City and Industrial Development Corporation, which was developed in 1970 strictly for the purpose of developing New Towns. New Bombay was originally intended for middle class and to alleviate congestion around the central business district. Ironically it was proposed and developed at the same time as the Back Bay Reclamation Project, which had exactly the opposite effect. Virtually they worked against each other in their intentions.
The problem that New Bombay faces is that it is highly underdeveloped.
It had envisioned a balanced urban development through a nodal pattern along
the rapid transit rail line. Each of these cities were to be independent
and self-sufficient. The center of the development was supposed to be Belapur,
the geographical center. But New Bombay has turned out completely different
from plans, much like everything else.
The center of commerce and industry in New Bombay has become Vashi, which is the closest city to the main island of Bombay. The New Town has a population of approximately 200,000 and few public facilities, no hospital or health center, no state school and no developed park or recreation space. The project has not had high demand for residents and all it has accomplished has been pushing the native population further towards the periphery by taking their old settlements and land.
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