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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.

Trailblazing Bureaucrat

The nine days of Navratri celebrate goddesses who embody strength in different forms; valour, compassion, creativity, austerity, devotion, justice, protection, forgiveness and wisdom. In our annual Navratri series, we celebrate the lives of nine women who strive to build happy and safe spaces for themselves and those around them.


PART - 7


Name: Sujata Saunik | Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Name: Sujata Saunik | Where: Mumbai, Maharashtra

In June 2024, Maharashtra appointed Sujata Saunik as Chief Secretary, the first woman to hold the position in the state’s 64-year history. Her achievement resonated beyond breaking a glass ceiling.


Sujata’s journey into public service began in 1987, when she joined the Indian Administrative Service. Over the next three decades, she worked across a wide spectrum of responsibilities, including public health, finance, education, social welfare, and disaster management. Her assignments were not limited to Maharashtra; she also served in national institutions such as the National Disaster Management Authority and the Central Social Welfare Board and represented India in United Nations missions in Kosovo and Cambodia. Each of these roles added depth to her understanding of how governance systems must function—not only efficiently, but inclusively, reaching the last person in the queue.


Her academic background gave her a strong foundation for reform. A gold medallist in history from Panjab University and later a Takemi Fellow at Harvard School of Public Health, she blended scholarship with practical action. This mix of intellectual rigour and hands-on experience shaped her approach as an officer: disciplined, data-driven, yet sensitive to human needs.


Sujata’s rise to the top was not without obstacles. Twice she was overlooked for the post of Chief Secretary, first in 2023 when her own husband, Manoj Saunik, was chosen, and again in early 2024 when another senior officer was appointed. For many, such setbacks might have been disheartening, but she chose patience and professionalism over disappointment. When she finally assumed charge in June 2024, her appointment became symbolic not just for women in administration but for anyone who believes that persistence eventually earns its place.


Her leadership style has been described as strict yet nurturing. Colleagues see her as a no-nonsense officer, firm in her expectations, but also willing to mentor and guide younger officers. One of her first initiatives as Chief Secretary was to make cabinet meetings paperless, introducing iPads for ministers and moving towards a more transparent, technology-driven system. While the change may appear procedural, it reflected her larger vision: governance that is modern, efficient, and accountable.


Sujata’s appointment was historic not only for her own achievement but also as part of a larger milestone: for the first time in Maharashtra’s history, three All India Services posts are held by women. Alongside Rashmi Shukla, the state’s first woman Director General of Police, and Shomita Biswas of the Indian Forest Service, Sujata led the administration as Chief Secretary, sending a powerful message that women are not merely participants in governance but are shaping its very direction.


Beyond titles and reforms, Sujata’s story is one of resilience and inclusion. It shows that genuine progress in governance lies in empowering people, building trust, and creating opportunities for the often unseen. She embodies this spirit, proving that discipline and compassion can transform a state.


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