Maharashtra, Prasar Bharati plan 150-acre media hub in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Lights, camera, expansion. Mumbai’s entertainment capital ambitions are getting a blockbuster-sized upgrade. In a major step towards transforming Mumbai into a global media and entertainment powerhouse, the Maharashtra government and Prasar Bharati have unveiled plans for an integrated film and television media hub spread across nearly 150 acres in Malad. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has approved the creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) between the state government and India’s public broadcaster to steer the project, which will be developed alongside the iconic Goregaon Film City, officially known as Dadasaheb Phalke Chitranagari.

The proposed hub is envisioned as far more than a film production complex. Plans include state-of-the-art studios, sound stages, hospitality infrastructure, tourism projects, IT and IT-enabled services facilities, and international-standard institutions focused on film, television and music education.

The larger vision is to create a creative economy district where production, technology, education and tourism converge under one roof.

The project builds on a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed in April 2025 between the Maharashtra government, the Maharashtra Film, Stage & Cultural Development Corporation (MFSCDC) and Prasar Bharati. The agreement covers a broader 240-acre development opportunity on land owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Reviewing progress on Wednesday, Fadnavis chaired a high-level meeting attended by Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar, Prasar Bharati chief executive officer Gaurav Dwivedi and senior officials from MFSCDC.

To accelerate development, the chief minister directed authorities to appoint a consulting agency to prepare a pre-feasibility study, infrastructure roadmap and Detailed Project Report (DPR). A joint working committee comprising representatives from the state government and Prasar Bharati will also be formed to fast-track technical approvals and project planning.

The government is additionally exploring partnerships with leading international educational institutions to establish specialised training centres within the complex, aiming to create a pipeline of future talent for India’s rapidly expanding media and entertainment industry.

The project, however, faces a script with a few regulatory twists. Parts of the land fall under No Development Zone (NDZ) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) restrictions, limiting large-scale construction activity. Of the broader 278-acre parcel, nearly 150 acres have currently been identified as suitable for joint development.

State officials acknowledged that policy amendments, statutory clearances and revisions to development control regulations will be required before construction can proceed at full scale.

Fadnavis has directed officials to finalise project components and submit a comprehensive development blueprint by the end of June.

If realised as planned, the hub could become one of India’s most ambitious media infrastructure projects, strengthening Mumbai’s position not just as Bollywood’s home, but as a global destination for content creation, production, training and entertainment innovation.