RFQ for Navi Mumbai airport likely in Jan

Move necessitated due to non-completion of joint surveys of land, houses of PAPs

The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) on Thursday indicated the request for qualification (RFQ) for the Navi Mumbai international airport would be issued in January next year and not December-end as projected earlier.

According to CIDCO sources, surveys would be conducted in villages, which will be affected by the project. After the surveys, the consent award for 371 hectares (yet to be acquired) will be given and thereafter, 22.5 per cent developed land of the total acquired land would be allotted to project affected persons (PAPs).

CIDCO has stepped up efforts to take on board PAPs from Pargaon, Dungi, Kohli, Ovla and Upper Ovla villages, who had opposed the state government's compensation package announced last month.

CIDCO Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Bhatia told Business Standard: “Currently, joint surveys of the houses in which the PAPs are staying are underway. We hope the RFQ will be issued in January.”

R C Gharat, chief negotiator of the PAPs, said residents from 12 villages had already supported the government's package. “I strongly feel that villagers from five villages, who have raised objections, will come on board after carefully going though the compensation package offered by the government,” he said.

Mahendra Patil, sarpanch of Pargaon, said the villagers had not accepted the government's package so far, thanks to the ongoing campaign for the gram panchayat elections.

“The decision on whether to accept the government package or not will be taken after December 24 when the elections are over,” he added.