The latest City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) auction of plots in Navi Mumbai drew a surprisingly muted response on Tuesday. Out of 47 residential, commercial, and service industry plots offered under Scheme 40, only 15 received qualified bids, with 22 plots receiving no bids at all.

Developers attribute the poor turnout to high base rates set by CIDCO, which they claim do not reflect current market realities. Despite mega-projects like Navi Mumbai International Airport usually driving up property demand, the high prices deterred interest. Plots in New Panvel, Panvel East, Airoli, and Ghansoli failed to attract bidders.

Prominent developers, including Godrej Properties, Satyam Lifescapes, and Abhinandan Builders, secured the few accepted bids. Godrej Properties bought three adjoining plots in Kharghar’s Sector 5A for ₹716.58 crore, where they plan to develop a residential community.

Builders Association of Navi Mumbai (BANM) President Vasant Bhadra criticized CIDCO for being out of touch with the market, while others urged CIDCO to rethink its pricing policies.

However, CIDCO’s vice-chairman Vijay Singhal dismissed the concerns, claiming the auction results were positive, with bids exceeding base prices by 21% to 118%. CIDCO has since announced Scheme 41, offering 33 additional plots.

Unauthorized banners removed ahead of Assembly Elections.

The Bannners

With the Model Code of Conduct coming into effect for the 2024 Assembly Elections on October 15, Navi Mumbai residents have finally seen the removal of unauthorized banners cluttering the city’s public spaces. Both municipal authorities and political parties have swiftly acted to clear streets and chowks of these banners following the Election Commission’s declaration.

In the lead-up to the elections, political candidates organized several events and marches, leading to a surge in unauthorized banners. The issue worsened during this year’s Ganeshotsav and Navratri festivals, with political workers placing banners in various public locations.

Although the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) typically releases complaint numbers to address such illegal installations, enforcement has often been weak. Municipal employees have been hesitant to act against political leaders, leaving these banners in place for extended periods. This reluctance led to growing frustration among residents, who viewed the banners as an eyesore and a violation of public space.

Now, with the Assembly Elections approaching and the Model Code of Conduct in place, the city has seen rapid action to ensure compliance, bringing a sense of relief to many residents concerned about the visual pollution caused by political banners.

Residents stage protest demanding justice for Nilesh Mhatre.

The Protest

 A strong protest, led by social activist Kantilal Kadu, took place on Thursday, October 17, outside the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) building, following the tragic death of Nilesh Mhatre, a local resident struck by an NMMT bus on February 8. Angry residents, including family members of Mhatre, joined the protest, accusing the NMMC of negligence in handling the case.

The protestors condemned Deputy Commissioner Yogesh Kaduskar for his alleged insensitivity and failure to fulfill promises of financial aid to Mhatre’s family and injured resident Keshav Thakur. Although Kaduskar had offered assurances on official letterhead, protestors criticized the move as a mockery, highlighting the municipality’s request for additional funds from the Chief Minister’s Assistance Fund.

Emotions ran high as Mhatre’s grieving family members expressed their anguish, with his sister stating, “We don’t want your help; we want our brother back.” Local leaders, including Hemlata Patil from Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana and SFI leader Gorakh Thakur, also joined the protest.

In response, NMMC officials offered temporary employment to Mhatre’s sister, with a promise of permanent placement within four days. Transport official Ravindra Daudkar committed to addressing financial assistance within eight days.

Kadu announced plans for legal action against Kaduskar and other officials, stating that legal proceedings would begin within 15 days to seek justice for the victims.