Mumbai Metropolitan Region (
MMR) is a
metropolitan area consisting of the metropolis of
Mumbai and its satellite towns in
Maharashtra. Developing over a period of about 20 years, it consists of seven municipal corporations and fifteen smaller municipal councils. The entire area is overseen by the
Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), a
Maharashtra State Government organisation in charge of town planning, development, transportation and housing in the region. The MMRDA was formed to address the challenges in planning and development of integrated infrastructure for the metropolitan region. The areas outside of Brihan Mumbai (
Greater Mumbai) and
Navi Mumbai have lacked organised development. Navi Mumbai, developed as one of the largest
planned cities in the world, was promoted by a
Maharashtra Government-owned company,
City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO). The region has had problems related to haphazard and illegal development as a result of rapid urbanisation. Villages along the
NH3 in
Bhiwandi Taluka are examples of haphazard developments in the MMR, with some of the largest warehousing areas in India. Government agencies such as the
Town Planner and
Collector of
Thane have had challenges in addressing unorganised development.