With land in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) nearly exhausted, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) is preparing to launch auctions for plots in Wadala, which has been earmarked as the city’s third central business district (CBD).

According to MMRDA commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee, the first round of auctions is expected to begin within the next two to three months. The development of Wadala is part of the joint economic master plan prepared by NITI Aayog and MMRDA.

Spread across 156 hectares, Wadala’s CBD has been designed as a mixed-use, transit-oriented hub. Its location offers strategic connectivity, with direct access to the Eastern Freeway, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (Atal Setu), the harbour line, the monorail, and the upcoming Metro-4 corridor between Wadala and Thane.

Until now, the land at Wadala was used for truck terminals. MMRDA is in discussions with the Bombay Goods Transport Association (BGTA) for relocation of the facility. BGTA representatives have emphasized the need for adequate relocation space since several transport offices still operate actively from the area.

The move comes on the heels of record-breaking deals in BKC, including Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo’s ₹2,238 crore purchase of a 3-acre plot earlier this year. By opening up Wadala, MMRDA hopes to sustain investor interest and maintain momentum in Mumbai’s commercial property market.

The authority has a broader investment plan of nearly ₹3 lakh crore in infrastructure, including the ₹1 lakh-crore metro rail network. Over the years, funds raised through land monetisation in BKC have played a crucial role in financing such projects. Now, with Wadala in focus, the city is looking at its next growth corridor—one that could rival both BKC and Nariman Point in shaping Mumbai’s commercial future.