The Covid pandemic has hit the job market in the country hard. The scenario in Navi Mumbai is however, very different. The city offers lucrative and unprecedented job opportunities that continue to grow and are expected to boom for years to come says Bhupendra Shah, chairman and managing director of Bhumiraj Group.

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Shah, who as Chairman Trustee Board of Builders Association of Navi Mumbai (BANM) has witnessed the development of Navi Mumbai from close quarters is very optimistic about its bright future due to its strong fundamentals, the mega infrastructure and projects coming up in the region.

According to Shah, “Employment opportunities arise when an economy booms. An economy booms when it has the right ingredients of connectivity, housing and infrastructure which results in business houses setting up base in large numbers. Navi Mumbai fulfills all these criteria and more.”

Said Shah, “The rush to set up base in the region can be gauged by the fact that around 500 new and start up companies are registered in and around Navi Mumbai every month.”

He reminisces, “It all started with wholesale market APMC shifting to Navi Mumbai. It brought along direct and indirect jobs for lakhs of people as a lot of stake holders are dependent on the market. The wholesale steel market followed.”

According to Bhupendra Shah, “As connectivity to Navi Mumbai improved with the railways, the IT boom began. Reliance set up Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City and more IT majors followed. The increasing presence of IT/ITeS companies is transforming the economy big time. The Thane Belapur belt that was the largest industrial belt in Asia dotted with chemical units is ifast becoming an IT hub with call centres, data centres and other such IT business present.”

Stated Shah, “Over Rs 1,40,000 cr worth of mega infrastructure projects are being developed in and around Navi Mumbai. Tell me one other place in the country where such huge investment is taking place. One needs to take a look at the projects to understand the employment opportunity scenario.”

Said Shah, “Obviously, huge man power is required for the completion of such projects like the airport, MTHL, highways, jetties etc. Projects like the airport bring in a lot of related industries including hotels, couriers, transport etc.. The metro and water transport are set to start soon, further boosting business in the city.”

Stated Shah, “JNPT has been expanding with more ports being added thereby adding to the job opportunities. The import and export and shipping companies are setting up shop in a big way in areas like CBD Belapur. Reliance SEZ, Corporate Park will all offer unprecedented opportunities running into over 25 lakh jobs at the minimum.”

Explaining that top corporates have realized the potential, Shah said, “The Tatas have just launched a 47.1 acre integrated commercial project in the city in which they plan to invest Rs 5,000 cr. The project Intellion Park which is large-scale, campus-style IT/ITeS development will create more than 70,000 job opportunities.”

He added, “There are other big names like L&T that is developing Seawoods Integrated Complex and Godrej which too is bullish on Navi Mumbai.”

Informs Shah, “It is not just the IT industry but others too who are making a beeline for Navi Mumbai. Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council is set to develop India Jewellery Park here in Mahape area. The Jewellery Park will have more than 1,000 gems and jewellery units spread over 21 acre land further adding to the direct and indirect employment opportunities.”

Reveals Shah, “There are a host of residential options in Navi Mumbai. Both CIDCO and private developers have housing projects that are being lapped up. With home and work place close by, there is quality talent available in the city and so naturally there job opportunities to match to tap this talent.”

He informed, “Over 72% of the residents work in Navi Mumbai itself. Why would you want to stay anywhere else but close to your work place. The companies are realizing that people are shifting to Navi Mumbai for quality life and hence they too need to be close to them.”
 
Concludes Shah, “The strategic location of Navi Mumbai along with upcoming mega projects, excellent connectivity, import export prospects and qualified talent has worked to its advantage. The business community is lapping it up leading to unprecedented job opportunities in the country’s premier city.”

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