The Maharashtra government has initiated a high-level probe into alleged housing irregularities in Navi Mumbai, placing the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) under the scanner. The investigation will be conducted by an officer of Additional Chief Secretary rank from the Urban Development Department and will examine complaints concerning violations of affordable housing norms and alleged lapses in granting building approvals.
The matter was raised in the state Assembly, where legislators claimed that the mandatory 20% allocation for affordable housing in select residential projects was not enforced. It was alleged that developers converted portions earmarked for affordable homes into higher-priced apartments for sale in the open market. Lawmakers further stated that over 2,000 affordable units that were to be constructed across Navi Mumbai were never built.
Questions were also raised about a project in Nerul, where the authority to issue building permissions rests with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), not CIDCO. The government informed the Assembly that if approvals were granted without proper jurisdiction, action would be taken against the officials responsible once accountability is established.
As Navi Mumbai’s planning authority, CIDCO has historically managed land allotments, project sanctions and infrastructure planning. The inquiry will assess whether established procedures were followed and whether affordable housing requirements were diluted or bypassed.
The appointed panel has been directed to scrutinise project approvals, land documentation and compliance records, while also examining coordination between CIDCO and NMMC to identify any administrative overlap or misuse of authority. Based on its findings, disciplinary or legal proceedings may follow.
The development has drawn significant attention as Navi Mumbai continues to expand residentially, with affordable housing forming a crucial component of its planned growth strategy.
Source: Prop News Time
