The Alert Citizens Forum, a prominent social organization in Navi Mumbai, has raised concerns about the parking arrangements in front of CIDCO’s headquarters. Under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, CIDCO revealed that the parking area is located on land not owned by the corporation. If this claim holds true, the extensive construction work carried out—such as the installation of pavements, CCTV cameras, a protective wall, and iron gates—could not have been done without CIDCO’s involvement, raising serious questions about the legitimacy of the project.
In response to these concerns, the Forum submitted an RTI application on September 3, 2024, to CIDCO’s Executive Engineer department, requesting details about the costs incurred for the parking area. The investigation has now confirmed the Forum’s suspicions, revealing that CIDCO spent over Rs 60 lakh on land that is not under its ownership, but rather encroached property.
Standard procedures within government organizations mandate that senior officers and the accounts department conduct thorough investigations before approving such expenditures. However, CIDCO appears to have bypassed these protocols. The expenses related to the parking area include Rs 2.6 lakh for a compound wall near the RBI Bank, Rs 4 lakh for creating two-wheeler parking with crabbing stones and pavements, Rs 5 lakh for excavation and debris removal, Rs 4.2 lakh for general parking area improvements, Rs 9 lakh for concreting between two parking slots, and Rs 9.5 lakh for laying pavements in an expanded area near Park Hotel and Kapas Bhavan. The total expenditure for these works exceeds Rs 60 lakh.
CIDCO also revealed that it spent Rs 52 lakh over two years for the installation and maintenance of CCTV cameras, which included coverage for the parking area. The division of the project into multiple phases has raised further suspicions regarding the underlying motives behind the parking arrangement.
The Forum now estimates that the total cost of the parking system has surpassed Rs 1 crore. Himanshu Katkar, a member of the Forum, has called for CIDCO to make all related expense details publicly available on its website.
Sudhir Daani, founder of Alert Citizen Forum, has also voiced concerns, calling for administrative action against officials responsible for authorizing the use of public funds for unauthorized parking. He has further demanded that the amounts spent on illegal parking be recovered from the responsible CIDCO officials.
CIDCO Clarification:
Meanwhile, CIDCO clarified that it is informed that in 1970, the Maharashtra government acquired land in the Thane, Panvel, and Uran talukas and planned the development of Navi Mumbai through the CIDCO Corporation. As a result, the rights to the acquired land in Navi Mumbai belong to CIDCO.
In an effort to maintain security and prevent illegal activities in Navi Mumbai, CIDCO has implemented a series of safety measures in the areas surrounding its headquarters. The vacant plot in front of the CIDCO building, located next to the CIDCO headquarters, is being closely monitored to prevent unauthorized encroachments, particularly under the Tata Power Line. To address this, CIDCO has deployed security guards in the area to ensure safety during both day and night.
In addition to physical security, CCTV surveillance has been installed in the area, which houses vital government institutions, including the Reserve Bank of India. The surveillance system aims to enhance the protection of these institutions and the surrounding premises.
To further safeguard the area, CIDCO has also taken action against unauthorized vehicle parking, especially during nighttime hours. The parking entrance is closed at night to deter anti-social elements and prevent any potential incidents. During the day, however, the gate remains open for public use.
