The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has short-listed 14 international firms to reshape Mumbai and its surrounding area into a cleaner, greener high tech metropolis. The project involves devising a development plan for the region for the next 30 to 40 years, which is expected to cost around 39Rs 6 crore.

The shortlisted firms include Jurong Consultants, Singapore; Lea International, Canada; Urbis, Dubai, UAE; Calthrope Associates, Gensler, ILFS, Perkins Eastman and , Atonk International/Edsa, USA; Groupe SCE and Arup Consultants with Dominique Perrault, France; Buro Happold, UK; Maxwan Arehelt, the Netherlands; GFB, Germany; and Consulting Engineering Services, India.

The next step is for the steering committee headed by MMRDA Commissioner Ratnakar Gaikwad to review all 14 firms before selecting the winning bidder. "We plan to appoint the consultant by the end of October this year," said U.P.S. Madan, head of the city transformation unit of the All India Institute of Local Self Government which is assisting in the Mumbai makeover plan. According to Madan, the plan will have several broad parameters including housing projects aimed at reducing slums, developing economic centres in the metropolitan region, focus on transport, and better use of land.