Addressing his first meeting as chairman of the District Planning Development Commission (DPDC), Raote said the bifurcation was vital for administrative convenience and planned development of the district.With thirteen talukas, Thane district covers a sizeable area, he pointed out, adding that while part of it was industrialised, the rest had remained backward. He said, the tribal region was in dire need of time-bound development. Rajya Sabha member and the first mayor of Thane, Satishchandra Pradhan, raised the issue, supported by Palghar MLA Maneesha Nimkar.

Demands for division of the district had been made by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena when the Congress was in power in the state.