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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 7:24:18 pm

CIDCO struggles to find takers for its homes

Mumbai: The City and Industrial Development Corporation’s (CIDCO) latest housing scheme has exposed a recurring challenge for the planning authority: finding buyers for its large housing inventory despite its affordable-housing focus. The August 2026 scheme offered 4,793 homes in Taloja, Kharghar and Kalamboli and received 4,180 confirmed applications before bookings closed on September 3. While CIDCO described the response as strong, 613 homes—nearly 13 per cent of the inventory—had no...

CIDCO struggles to find takers for its homes

Mumbai: The City and Industrial Development Corporation’s (CIDCO) latest housing scheme has exposed a recurring challenge for the planning authority: finding buyers for its large housing inventory despite its affordable-housing focus. The August 2026 scheme offered 4,793 homes in Taloja, Kharghar and Kalamboli and received 4,180 confirmed applications before bookings closed on September 3. While CIDCO described the response as strong, 613 homes—nearly 13 per cent of the inventory—had no confirmed applicant. This follows earlier schemes with similar gaps. In January 2025, CIDCO’s ‘My Preferred Home’ scheme, offering around 26,000 homes across Navi Mumbai, attracted 1.36 lakh initial applications. However, only about 55,000 applicants paid the registration fee and around 22,000 deposited the required earnest money, leaving serious participation below the number of homes offered. A CAG-linked report on two CIDCO housing schemes in Kharghar found that, of 4,814 saleable tenements, allotment letters had been issued to 3,733 applicants and possession handed over to 3,317. Four years after the draw, 1,081 tenements remained unsold. CIDCO has also faced scrutiny over marketing expenditure. In 2023, reports questioned the appointment of private agencies to market and allot PMAY homes, stating that the agencies had received advances of more than Rs 100 crore before sales took place. CIDCO officials said external support was necessary given the scale of the programme. The scale of investment adds to the concern. CIDCO’s mass-housing programme envisaged 68,515 homes at an estimated cost of around Rs 15,300 crore. A 2024 report noted that thousands of completed homes were awaiting sale, locking up capital and increasing the authority’s financial burden. The latest homes are located in Taloja Sector 39, Kalamboli Bus Depot and Kharghar Bus Depot. Taloja accounts for 4,229 homes, followed by 257 in Kalamboli and 293 in Kharghar. Indicative prices range from around Rs 23.50 lakh in Taloja to Rs 37.70 lakh in Kalamboli and Rs 43.50 lakh in Kharghar. The figures point to a possible mismatch between what CIDCO considers affordable and what its target buyers can finance. Industry experts have noted that EWS homes priced at Rs 25 lakh or more may be difficult for households within the prescribed income ceiling, particularly after registration, stamp duty, floor-rise charges and other costs. Location may also influence demand. Taloja has seen rapid development and improved connectivity, including metro access, but buyers continue to weigh its distance from established employment centres and social infrastructure, as well as commuting costs. CIDCO maintains that its housing programme meets a genuine need in Navi Mumbai. Ashwin Mudgal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, CIDCO, said, “The overwhelming response to the housing scheme reflects the aspirations of citizens to own a home in Navi Mumbai and their continued confidence in CIDCO’s planned development initiatives. CIDCO remains committed to providing affordable and quality housing opportunities in well-planned locations, enabling citizens to benefit from the region’s growing infrastructure and connectivity.” The authority has also highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U) subsidy, under which eligible beneficiaries can receive Rs 2.5 lakh, subject to applicable guidelines and eligibility criteria. However, the repeated unsold inventory suggests that CIDCO’s challenge extends beyond construction. Pricing, apartment configurations, location, payment flexibility and connectivity may need to be reassessed before further public resources are committed.

Creativity, imagination and journey into space

Mumbai: The AI Prompt Art 2026 Exhibition, organised by the Nehru Science Centre, Mumbai, in association with the National Centre for Science Communicators (NCSC) as part of National Space Week 2026, offers a fascinating and inspiring exploration of the intersection of science, technology, art and imagination.


Held from August 16-23, the exhibition celebrates India’s remarkable journey in space science, exploration and discovery while presenting an innovative perspective on the growing role of Artificial Intelligence in visual creativity and scientific communication.


At the heart of the exhibition is the concept of AI prompt art, in which an idea, question, scientific concept or imaginative thought is transformed into a visual creation through Artificial Intelligence. Unlike traditional art forms, AI prompt art allows people from diverse backgrounds to participate in visual storytelling without necessarily requiring conventional artistic skills. A thought can become an image, a scientific question can become a visual narrative, and an imaginative vision of the future brought to life.


This creative process is one of the exhibition’s most significant strengths. It demonstrates how Artificial Intelligence can become a new medium for artistic expression while also opening fresh possibilities for scientific communication, education and storytelling. The exhibition shows that technology need not replace human creativity; instead, it can provide new tools through which human curiosity and imagination can find visual expression.


The exhibition presents a curated collection of imaginative AI-generated artworks inspired by the wonders of the universe. Astronomy and celestial phenomena provide a vast canvas for creative interpretation. Planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae, spacecraft, lunar landscapes and distant worlds are represented through a variety of visual styles and perspectives. The artworks invite viewers to look at familiar scientific ideas in unfamiliar ways, transforming complex or distant concepts into engaging visual experiences.

A particularly important aspect of the exhibition is its celebration of India’s achievements in space exploration. The country’s remarkable journey from the early stages of its space programme to ambitious planetary missions provides a powerful source of inspiration. The exhibition gives special attention to landmark missions such as Chandrayaan, reflecting India’s continuing quest to understand the Moon, our planetary neighbourhood and the wider universe.


The Chandrayaan missions have become an important part of India’s scientific identity, representing technological capability, perseverance and the spirit of exploration.

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