Located to the north of Mumbai, Mira-Bhayandar is a suburb of Thane. Its located at a distance of 32 km from Mumbai city, and is a part of the Salsette Island. The region consists of two localities, Mira and Bhayandar. Bhayandar, like so many localities in MMR, is divided into Bhayandar East and Bhayandar West by a railway line.
Historically, the region of Mira-Bhayandar was a shipping port for trade. It was a cluster of villages, before the farm lands were converted into residential properties in 1970s and 1980s. Today, the locality is mainly residential, and has several mangroves and saltpans. Areas like Mira Road East are quiet and serene, while Bhayandar East is more industrial in nature, and Bhayandar West more residential. The region is planned well and has adequate infrastructure.
The increased population in the locality in recent times has brought a change in the social infrastructure of the locality. Its home to several educational institutions, some of the popular ones being Holy Cross Military School, Saraswati Vidyalaya, Rohidas Patil Institute of Management Studies, Reena Mehta College of Commerce & Management, and other educational institutions. Mira-Bhayandar also has hospitals like Lifeline Hospital, Kasturi Hospital, and Bhaktivedanta Hospital.
Although there aren’t too many municipal markets in the locality, one can buy everyday things from supermarkets like D-Mart, Big Bazaar, or Sahakari Bhandar, and also from the numerous hawkers selling their products on the localitys streets.
Connectivity and Transit Points
Mira-Bhayandar offers good connectivity to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and to other regions in Thane district. The locality lies near the NH-8, which connects Mumbai with cities like Baroda, Ajmer, and Delhi.
Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) provides bus services from Mira-Bhayandar to other parts of the region like Bhayandar railway station, Ghodbunder, and Mira Road railway station. Its also well connected with other suburbs in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), while other localities like Mahim, Mulund, Santa Cruz, and Borivali are usually just a BEST drive away.
Besides BEST, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT),Thane Municipal Transport (TMT), and Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Transport (MBMT) also provide bus services from the region.
One of the chief modes of transportation across Mumbai is rail. The Mira-Bhayandar region is well connected by rail. The localitys residents can use either the Mira Road railway station or Bhayandar railway station, both lying on the Western line of the Mumbai suburban railway. The nearest airport from the locality is the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, which is 25 km from here, while the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station is much farther at 45 km.
Major Landmarks
Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Ground
Maxus Mall
Mira Road railway station
Ghodbunder Fort
Shankar Temple
Factors for Growth in the Past
The locality’s proximity to important business centres like Thane and Mumbai has majorly influenced this localitys growth in the past. Mira-Bhayandars excellent connectivity with other regions of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by road and rail has also been a major plus point for the region.
In the past, the increase in realty prices in Mumbai pushed many people to buy houses in Mumbai’s suburbs. The rapid increase in the population of the region naturally influenced the development of Mira-Bhayandar. The locality has also seen massive development in the manufacturing sector, which has created many jobs in the area.
Major Challenges
As the region doesnt have a dedicated market for fruits and vegetables, hawkers sell their products on footpaths, thereby reducing the space for pedestrians and congesting several roads. Many footpaths in the locality also have huge gaping holes. These open manholes are dangerous for pedestrians, and are a breeding ground for mosquitoes and insects.
The region also has several illegal water connections, which are causing a loss to the development authoritys exchequer, while reducing the net supply of water.
Factors for Growth in the Future
One of the key factors for localitys growth in the future is the availability of empty plots. These vacant plots are all set to be used for commercial and industrial development, especially in West Mira Road.
Add to this a slew of infrastructure projects enhancing the regions connectivity. Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) plans to induct 100 new buses to its fleet, to expand operations in the region. The Maharashtra government has proposed to build a 4-lane road connecting Mira-Bhayandar with Gorai. A bridge will also be constructed over the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC). These connectivity projects are especially great signs for the localitys development in the future.