Eknath Shinde mulls Ambernath-Badlapur corporation; BJP MLA wants separate local bodies

Chief minister Eknath Shinde is contemplating forming a new municipal corporation for the Ambernath-Badlapur area which is currently governed by two municipal councils. If all goes as per the plan, this will be the 10th corporation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and the third in terms of area after Mumbai and Navi Mumbai civic bodies.

Though Shinde is hoping to get political benefit as this part of Thane district is under his influence, the local BJP legislator has crossed swords with him over the idea.

On his recent visit to Ambernath for a cultural programme organised by his son and MP Shrikant Shinde, the CM discussed the idea with his party leaders. Sources said the plan is to form the new corporation by merging the two municipal councils and adjoining villages.

The entire list of areas that could be part of the proposed civic body is not yet clear but if one goes by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority’s development plan for the region, ‘Ambernath, Kulgaon-Badlapur and surrounding notified area’ could come under the new corporation. The total area could be 166.62 sq km.

However, BJP MLA Kisan Kathore from Murbad constituency, which covers Badlapur, has expressed his reservation over one corporation for Ambernath and Badlapur. “I came to know about the discussions and the plan to form Ambernath-Badlapur corporation. But it would be better to form two separate local bodies,” he said.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to administer such a vast area, Kathore said. “There are many villages surrounding Badlapur which should be accommodated. In that case the municipal corporation limits would be too wide and if the government excludes the villages, it would be injustice to the people as they too aspire to join the new corporation.”

This is an indication that the formation of Ambernath-Badlapur corporation may become a new point of friction between the Shinde camp and BJP.

Ambernath-Badlapur is a rapidly growing area in Thane district, and it is going to be connected by metro railway network in future. At present, MMR has nine municipal corporations and 9 municipal councils (which govern smaller cities).