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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.

Varanasi: A Journey That Touches the Soul

A visit to culturally rich Varanasi brought discoveries—food, history, rituals—but beyond all of it, the city touched something deeper within us.

Varanasi had long been on my wish list—one of those places my heart wanted to revisit, this time with my family. When I mentioned it at home, my daughter’s eyes lit up, and soon the three of us decided on a winter trip. January is one of the best months to experience the city, so on the 15th, we set off, wrapped in crisp winter air and a calm, peaceful mood.


With nearly 25 years in the tourism industry, planning the trip felt effortless. We chose a comfortable 3-star hotel near the Ganga, complete with a warm in-house restaurant for hearty breakfasts. I contacted our trusted guide, Sanmegh, who readily agreed to join us. A good local guide is invaluable in a city as culturally rich as Varanasi, especially since my last visit was years ago—before the Kashi Vishwanath reconstruction and the post-COVID transformations. This time, I wanted to experience the city more deeply, and with Sanmegh’s insight, we rediscovered Varanasi in its full spiritual splendour.


Varanasi—also known as Banaras or Kashi—is one of the world’s oldest living cities. Resting on the sacred Ganga, its history spans thousands of years, with scriptures mentioning Kashi as early as the first millennium BCE. Nearby lies Sarnath, where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, marked by Ashoka’s Lion Capital. The city’s spiritual identity deepened in the 8th century when Adi Shankaracharya formalised Shiva worship here. Over time, Varanasi grew into a centre of the Bhakti movement, home to saints like Kabir, Ravidas, and Tulsidas.


The ghats of Varanasi reveal life’s deepest truths. Dashashwamedh, Panchganga, Harishchandra, and above all Manikarnika—the eternal cremation ghat—reflect the fragile beauty of existence. It is believed that Lord Shiva blesses the departed here, granting them moksha, or liberation. Standing there, watching the rituals unfold, you become aware of life’s impermanence and the quiet truth that returning to nature is our final, peaceful chapter.


The city glows with countless temples—Kashi Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan, the Durga Temple, and many hidden gems tucked into narrow lanes. We visited the mysterious 40-foot-deep Pita Maheshwar Linga, the legendary Chandrakoop (the Well of Death), the powerful Vrieshwar Temple, the sacred Lolark Kund, and even saw the rare northward flow of the Ganga. Varanasi was also home to Maharshi Patanjali, the father of yoga and Ayurveda, making it a wellspring of ancient Indian knowledge. Even today, the 750-year-old Sapt Rishi Aarti continues—an unbroken chain of devotion.


Our five to six days in Varanasi were filled with discoveries—food, culture, history, rituals, stories—but beyond all of it, the city touched something deeper within us. Varanasi makes you meet yourself. Even amid thousands, there were moments when silence felt louder than the crowd. Walking past Manikarnika Ghat reminded us that life is both precious and temporary. At the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, we felt God’s presence—quiet yet powerful. Varanasi shows that whether rich or poor, everyone comes here seeking peace, meaning, and liberation.


Standing by the Ganga, watching her calm and dignified flow, we realised that life is beautiful—and that even its ending is just another gentle transition.


Banaras also delighted us with its flavours. The city’s mostly vegetarian street food is full of warmth—kachori with chana sabzi, golgappa, malai toast, palak patta chaat, samosa chaat, tamatar chaat, aloo tikki, chuda muttar, and every kind of paratha. Sweet lovers are spoilt with malaiyo, laal peda, jalebi-rabri, Banarasi lassi, thandai, kullad chai, and of course, the iconic Banarasi paan. We also indulged in shopping—pure Banarasi silk sarees, beautiful handicrafts, and metalwork from Thatheri Bazar and Dalmandi added to the experience.


Another unique tradition here is bhang, offered as prasad to Lord Shiva. Symbolising purity and surrender, bhang thandai is especially famous and deeply woven into the city’s spiritual culture.


Varanasi is where the past and present walk hand in hand. It teaches you to pause, breathe, and reconnect with life’s deeper purpose. This journey brought us closer to ourselves, to our beliefs, and to the truths that shape our lives.


One of my dreams was to take my daughter to Varanasi and show her the sacred places that form the foundation of our culture. I believe the next generation must understand their spiritual roots. This trip was my gift to her after her 12th standard. Watching her absorb the stories, rituals, and history filled my heart. She returned with a deeper connection to our heritage—something no classroom or textbook can teach.


And that is why Varanasi is not just a destination.


It is an experience—a blessing—that stays with you forever.

 

(The writer is a tourism professional and runs a company, Global Voyages. She could be contacted at goglobalvoyages@gmail.com. Views personal.)

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