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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.

The Rebel In Action

Jarange

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil is currently interviewing the aspirants who want to contest the assembly elections as the official candidates of the Maratha community. He had been interviewing the candidates continuously for past 24 hours and on Friday, he seemed emotional when the media went to have a look at the process. “Don’t let the fight die off,” he appealed the members of the community as he spoke to the media. However, this has led to questions whether he would emerge victorious in the fight in the court of people.


Born on August 1, 1982 in a modest family of Matori village in Beed district of Marathwada, Jarange-Patil rose to prominence in September 2023 after the police caned several of his supporters who had gathered at his village Antarwali Sarate in Jalna district. The police were trying to end forcefully, his fast, which he had started to push for his demand that Marathas be given caste certificates as Kunbis, which is classified under OBC communities.


After the quota given to Maratha community was struck down by the Supreme Court a couple of years back, the Maratha community leaders had been searching for ways to revive it and what Jarange-Patil is asking for is one of the ways, though it has several legal hurdles. The real issue of confrontation is that he wants the government to make decision in favour of their demand at once and the government is shying away from doing that, though it has already conceded to most of their other demands.


Jarange-Patil wields considerable clout among Maratha youth. They are just crazy after him. They flock in lakhs whenever he calls for a rally. They wait till dawn if he is to pass by their village just have a glimpse of him. It appears as if the new generation of the community have all their hopes rested in him. One upon a time Jarage-Patil was just like them. He had completed his education till class 10 and moved to another district in Marathwada to pursue the traditional profession of farming. However, he got involved more in the community affairs and participated in several agitations of the community including the one for quota after 2016. He is married to Soumitra Jarange, and they have four children. His family life is a testament to his ability to balance his personal and professional responsibilities. His son, Shivraj, is pursuing a B.Tech degree, while daughter, Pallavi, is in class 8.


Much before he participated in the quota stir, in 2009 he had founded the Shivba Sanghatana, an organisation dedicated to the cause of education and employment for Maratha youth. Manoj Jarange-Patil is known for his resilience and unwavering commitment to social justice. His leadership style is characterised by grassroots mobilization and direct action. He has a unique ability to connect with people from various walks of life, which has been instrumental in garnering widespread support for his initiatives. However, his path is fill with political challenges and legal hurdles.

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