As cities grow, their traditional centers and districts often shift and change in their balance of uses and intensities. In Mumbai, the primary financial center of India, the two established business districts of Nariman Point and Bandra Kurla are reaching full capacity. The city elected to address this fluid context by developing a third financial district at Wadala, an area halfway between the historic Fort district on the south and the Mumbai International Airport on the north. The site was acquired by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) because of its strategic location and connectivity to existing and planned metropolitan infrastructure, including a new commuter rail line being built to and from the site. Similar to the Beijing CBD, the new location in Wadala would help to preserve the historic core and essential urban character of Nariman Point.

Building on the city’s historic spatial and landscape traditions, the plan proposes predominantly commercial office uses while also including diverse types of residential development within the same zone. Active, pedestrian-serving uses are encouraged at ground and lower levels. At two key locations, the plan encourages business-serving hotels, and a focused retail street anchors the largely residential western area of the plan. The block structure provides practical dimensions for the development of major commercial buildings while providing convenient access for enhanced walkability as well as limited vehicular access. The plan incorporates three commuter rail stations currently under construction. In addition to requiring sustainable principles and emerging trends of nature-based practices.