Maharashtra Deputy CM Shinde Refutes Rumors of Demolishing 5,038 Houses for Navi Mumbai Airport Project

Panvel: Addressing growing concerns over the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) project, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has confirmed that reports about the demolition of 5,038 houses are merely rumors. In a written statement, he assured that no such action has been taken or planned by CIDCO during the budget session of state assembly.

Amid growing concerns over NAINA project, Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur demanded that the government immediately hold discussions with project-affected villagers to address their doubts during the budget session of state assembly. Until then, City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) should refrain from taking any action, he emphasized during the state budget session.

Thakur raised concerns over the uncertainty surrounding farmers’ land rights and insisted that no progress should be made on the project unless the affected farmers are fully satisfied. Responding to this, Minister Uday Samant assured that CIDCO would not proceed without taking local representatives and affected villagers into confidence.

No Demolition of 5038 Houses: Eknath Shinde

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde clarified in a written statement that reports about the demolition of 5038 houses under NAINA were merely rumors. He stated that CIDCO’s urban planning schemes are being implemented across 46 villages, ensuring that 40% of landowners’ original houses are preserved.

Despite this assurance, MLA Thakur criticized CIDCO for its alleged "authoritarian approach" and questioned the viability of the 60:40 land-sharing model. He highlighted that while CIDCO retains 60% of the land, the remaining 40% allocated to farmers often does not provide sufficient Floor Space Index (FSI) for construction, leaving farmers at a disadvantage.

Farmers Strongly Oppose TPS Scheme

Thakur also condemned CIDCO’s move to include village settlement areas in the Town Planning Scheme (TPS) without farmers' consent. He warned that the affected villagers were prepared to resist CIDCO’s efforts and would not part with their land.

To resolve the issue, Thakur urged the government to exclude houses near village settlements from the TPS scheme. He further requested Deputy CM Eknath Shinde to hold a meeting with the farmers to address their grievances.

Minister Uday Samant assured that CIDCO would not take any action without proper consultations and promised to arrange a post-session meeting with Deputy CM Shinde to discuss farmers' concerns in detail.