Mumbai Teams Up With South Korea To Build Smarter Sustainable Urban Infrastructure

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has initiated a strategic collaboration with South Korean institutions to accelerate the city’s shift towards smart, sustainable, and equitable urban infrastructure.

The move aligns with the broader Mumbai 3.0 vision — an ambitious blueprint aimed at transforming the metropolis into a future-ready, climate-resilient, and globally competitive city. The collaboration was formalised during a high-level interaction between MMRDA officials and a South Korean delegation at the India Global Forum 2025 held at the Jio World Centre. The discussions centred on knowledge exchange, global best practices in smart city planning, advanced transit systems, and targeted foreign investment to drive sustainable urban growth across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

At the heart of the engagement is the replication of successful Korean models, particularly the development strategy employed in Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), which has grown into a USD 100 billion urban economy through integrated tech-driven development and smart governance. Mumbai, now inducted into the Global Twin Cities Platform via a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the World Smart Cities Forum (WSCF) in Davos last year, seeks to leverage these proven models to build smart transit corridors, innovation clusters, and inclusive housing ecosystems. According to senior MMRDA officials, the city’s transformation strategy includes deploying Korean expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence-based urban management systems, green mobility networks, smart housing clusters, and fintech innovation zones. These technologies and systems have been instrumental in elevating urban living standards in global benchmarks like Seoul and Incheon, where sustainability, inclusivity, and high livability have become core tenets of city governance.

One of the key aspects discussed was the development of transit-oriented development (TOD) zones and mixed-use urban townships. These projects aim to reduce the dependency on fossil-fuel-based transport by integrating residential, commercial, and recreational spaces within walkable distances from mass transit hubs. The vision is to not only curtail carbon emissions but also promote healthier, more inclusive lifestyles — in line with the principles of equitable and gender-neutral urban development. Logistics parks, data centres, clean-tech incubation hubs, and affordable housing clusters have also been identified as high-potential zones for foreign direct investment. MMRDA aims to tap into the expansive investor networks of Korean government-linked bodies such as the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), as well as private sector players with deep expertise in infrastructure, mobility, and green technologies.

Officials stated that the partnership will also prioritise capacity building and skills transfer, especially for local government planners and engineers, through bilateral knowledge-sharing programmes and joint pilot projects. This focus on institutional collaboration is expected to enhance long-term sustainability and governance capacity across MMR’s urban local bodies. The delegation’s visit underscores the growing momentum behind India-South Korea collaboration in smart urban solutions and positions Mumbai as a leading candidate for large-scale global investments in sustainable city development. The partnership is not only expected to catalyse infrastructure modernisation but also contribute to job creation, innovation-led growth, and socio-economic upliftment, particularly in underdeveloped and peri-urban areas of the region.

With the Mumbai 3.0 roadmap emphasising eco-sensitive planning, climate resilience, and people-centric infrastructure, the alignment with Korea’s urban development philosophy provides a timely opportunity to recalibrate city planning away from car-centric, fragmented urban sprawl. Instead, the focus is shifting toward compact, connected, and carbon-neutral development zones that are both environmentally responsible and economically vibrant. Experts involved in the discussions highlighted that while technological integration is critical, the ultimate success of Mumbai 3.0 will depend on ensuring that growth is inclusive and equitable. That means planning for access to clean water, safe public transport, affordable housing, and decent jobs for all — especially for the most vulnerable communities.

MMRDA’s leadership noted that the Global Twin Cities partnership with WSCF, along with Korean institutional backing, serves as a vital enabler for adopting globally benchmarked sustainability metrics and governance frameworks. The city’s engagement with international platforms and peers is expected to create feedback loops that help refine Mumbai’s approach to resilience, mobility, and carbon neutrality. As Mumbai accelerates towards its next stage of urban evolution, the collaboration with South Korea could prove to be a gamechanger — not just in terms of high-tech infrastructure, but in shaping an equitable city that is ready to lead in the age of sustainable urbanisation. By fusing global knowledge with local priorities, the Mumbai 3.0 vision is steadily positioning the city as a leader in inclusive and green development.

Also Read : https://urbanacres.in/mumbai-new-policy-to-fast-track-infrastructure-projects-with-monetary-compensation/

Mumbai Teams Up With South Korea To Build Smarter Sustainable Urban Infrastructure