Dinesh Kamath's news item 'PAPs offered township in return for land for proposed NMIA' that was published in Newsband

PAPs offered township in return for land for proposed NMIA

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: CIDCO is planning to come up with a new township, Pushpak Nagar, for the project-affected persons (PAPs). These people are expected to part with their lands for the sake of proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). Previously PAPs would be treated shabbily in the sense that whenever their lands were snatched they would be rehabilitated in some remote location. But this time it appears that they are being given a fair deal. The land which CIDCO is offering PAPs will appear posh like regions found in Great Britain.

The proposed township is spread over 26,32,569 sq m. It will have sophisticated infrastructure, amenities and buildings which will match Western countries. This assurance was given by Sanjay Bhatia, CIDCO vice-chairman and MD. The area used to raise this township is actually CIDCO’s land spread over 200 hectares near Dapoli village.

The plan is nearly ready and will soon be presented to the PAPs. Approximately 5,000 families, or 10 villages, will have to be re-settled after they get displaced due to the NMIA.

The fine print has a central park, lake, community garden or open spaces, stadium, recreational zones, religious places, educational institutes, hospital, etc.

This township will have couple of railway stations close by and there will be a National Highway and also Metro rail passing next to it.

CIDCO will hand the allotment letters to the PAPs the very moment they pass on their land for the NMIA. This was another assurance made by Bhatia.

According to the schedule, the township will be ready in 24 months at an estimated cost of Rs 854 crore. The structures constructed here will be 53 meters since there is an airport closeby. But the question is whether the PAPs will accept this proposal.