Mumbai: A group of 30 students from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, visited the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) headquarters as part of an educational field visit to study the city’s disaster management systems and advanced urban planning practices. The visit was led by Prof. Mahesh Kamble, under the institute’s Disaster Management course.
During the visit, the students were briefed by Assistant Director of Town Planning, Somnath Kekan, who walked them through the evolution of Navi Mumbai—from its inception to the development plans charted for the year 2038. He provided a detailed overview of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, urban planning criteria, CIDCO’s role in city development, and the processes involved in the approval of development plans.
Additional City Engineer Arvind Shinde gave a comprehensive presentation on NMMC’s water supply and sewerage systems. He also highlighted the importance of the holding ponds—reservoir-like structures developed to prevent flooding in the city—and explained their operational mechanism.
The students were also introduced to Navi Mumbai’s efficient solid waste management system. They interacted with civic officials and raised questions on various aspects of planning and infrastructure, which were answered in detail by Kekan.
The study tour also included a visit to the state-of-the-art three-tier water purification plant located in Nerul. The students observed the plant’s functioning and commended the municipality’s investment in modern infrastructure and future-ready urban systems.
“This field visit gave students a practical understanding not only of disaster management but also of how long-term planning and strong infrastructure contribute to making a city safe and sustainable,” said Prof. Mahesh Kamble. He added that Navi Mumbai could serve as a model for other urban centers.
The initiative marked a significant step in fostering collaboration between academic institutions and civic bodies, promoting meaningful dialogue around disaster preparedness and sustainable urban development.
