Ulwe

Ulwe उलवे Ulve
Town
Ulwe Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18°58′34″N 73°03′08″E / 18.976063°N 73.052294°E / 18.976063; 73.052294Coordinates: 18°58′34″N 73°03′08″E / 18.976063°N 73.052294°E / 18.976063; 73.052294
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District	Raigad
Languages
• Official	Marathi
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Telephone code	022 --------

Ulwe (also Ulwa, Ulva or Ulawe) is a node of the city of Navi Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. It is developed and maintained by CIDCO. It is located in Raigad district. Ulwe is going to be a major successful planned place to live after Vashi. It has attracted lot's of people to buy property. The metro project of Navi Mumbai connects Ulwe prominently. Ulwe has rising land rates based on the pretext of proposed International Airport.

Ulwe has sports complex with Football, Badminton, Hockey, Swimming poll and Indoor Stadium.^[1] Ulwe has seen drastic increase in property rate due to the geographical location and close proximity of proposed International Airport, Seawoods-Uran railway line and proposed trans harbor link from Sewri to Chirle village.^[2]

Ulwe has big land parcels belonging to Reliance Industries Ltd. on which big residential and commercial activities are expected to start. The nearest railway station is proposed Bamandongri railway station. Named after the village settlement located in the node.

Many buildings and constructions are being developed in this node of Navi Mumbai. CIDCO buildings are also being constructed in this place. The Navi Mumbai international airport is nearby to Ulwe. A sea link from Sewri to Nhava Sheva is proposed.

Ulwe Port

Ulwe is situated at the Panvel creek and is at a distance of 6 miles from Panvel. There is a wharf at Ulwe. The old pier is in a dilapidated condition. This port is not approachable to big steamers. There are two seasonal sailing vessels for passenger traffic. Mostly these vessels are used for carrying vegetables and fruits to Mumbai. The chief goods exported from Ulwe are fruits and vegetables, rice, grain, salt, firewood and sand.^[3]

Modern History

City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) a registered company under the company's act of 1972 and is responsible for development of the Ulwe node and all the other nodes in Navi Mumbai. The other nodes in Navi Mumbai are Vashi, Sanpada, Nerul, Kharghar, Panvel, Turbhe, Airoli, Dronagiri and Ulwe. Originally land parcels were owned by farmers in this node. CIDCO brought land from farmers and has been developing these land parcels. The Ulwe node has a river (Ulwe river) passing through the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport. To the north east of the node lies the Gahdi river. The node also has more than 300 hectares of mangroves.

As per a Micro Market Report on Ulwe^[4] by Indiaproperty.com, over the last five years, prices of properties in Ulwe, have scaled-up with an average annual appreciation ranging between 25-30%. The spurt and recognition of Ulwe as one of the fastest growing Mumbai suburbs, has come about because of both in progress and proposed infrastructure projects. Unfortunately as of today, there is no clarity regarding the progress and future of these big infrastructure and development initiatives. SEZ, Airport and the improved connectivity via the sea link, are seen as engines that will ensure that the area and the surrounding places get good-quality roads and other infrastructure.

Talking about the current status of Ulwe, the micro market is yet to develop and lacks basic infrastructure including a network of roads, water supply and drainage system. Public transport available is also limited with few buses and private auto-rickshaws.

Environmental Context

The nodes in the environmental perspective are very rich, with 300+ hectares of mangroves and two rivers. Rivers Ulwe and Ghadi pass through the Ulwe node in the proposed international airport area. Construction and development has only been possible after containing, diverting these rivers and mangroves. Approximately 200 hectares of mangroves will be destroyed for the upcoming international airport. The environmental clearance for the project has been given based on relocation or re plantation of these 200 hectare mangroves. Cidco has proposed a mangrove park north of the airport site. The river Ghadi is to be diverted altering its meeting point in the Panvel creek. Environmentalist fear flooding of Panvel area because of this alteration.

Karnala bird sanctuary is just below the Dronagiri node, south east of the node. The bird sanctuary is small, approximately 11.2 kms.square. Along with Sanjay Gandhi national park and Tungerashwar sanctuary is the boundary of Mumbai Metropolitan region. Dronagiri fort is located in the southernmost tip of Dronagiri spread over an area of 17kms.squar and is bound by karnjha river on the south-east. It lies between the town of Uran and karanjha. Port based activities take place around the area.

References