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.

In a major breakthrough, Navi Mumbai Police, with assistance from Panipat Police, arrested Sukhbir Balbir Singh, alias Sukha, a notorious member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, on Thursday. Sukha is one of the prime suspects in a plot to assassinate Bollywood actor Salman Khan. The police traced him to a hotel in Panipat, where he was apprehended.

Sukha had reportedly conducted reconnaissance of Khan’s Panvel farmhouse as part of the plot. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang had placed a Rs 25 lakh bounty on the actor’s life, according to a charge sheet filed by Navi Mumbai Police.

Investigations revealed that 60 to 70 gang members had been tracking Khan’s movements between August 2023 and April 2024. Sukha is the sixth suspect arrested in the case, joining five others previously caught.

The gang aimed to procure advanced weapons from Pakistan, including AK-47s and M16 rifles. Sukha reportedly negotiated the arms deal with a Pakistan-based dealer via video call. The plot was foiled after a tip-off led to the arrest of key suspects.

Sukha, who also maintained an active social media presence flaunting weapons, is now in police custody, with further arrests expected as the investigation continues.

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.