Airport:CIDCO to start acquisition of remaining land in 6 mths

The state-run City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), the nodal agency for the Navi Mumbai International Airport, will start acquisition of the remaining 671 hectares of land in the next six months, a step that will pave way for speedy implementation of the project.
"We are receiving encouraging response from villagers and almost 90 per cent of villagers in the core airport area surveyed so far have extended their support, paving way for acquisition of the remaining 671 hectares land," CIDCO vice-chairman and managing director Sanjay Bhatia told reporters here today.
Altogether 1,600 hectares of land will be utilised for the airport and of this 671 hectares is yet to be acquired.

"With the consents in place, we expect to commence the acquisition process in the next six months," he said.
CIDCO has agreed to allot 22.5 per cent developed plots towards compensation to those whose land have been acquired.
Bhatia said so far 70 villagers whose lands would be acquired had given consent letters.

He further said the entire rehabilitation process is being done through negotiations and only after securing consent letters the CIDCO was moving ahead.
The project affected people (PAPs) had opposed land acquisition and refused to accept the state government's earlier compensation package.
However, after several months of hectic negotiations, PAPs finally agreed to the Maharashtra government's offer of 22.5 per cent developed land for every hectare of land acquired.

They will also be provided one floor space index (FSI) for 12.5 per cent of developed land and 2.5 FSI for balance 10 per cent.
Bhatia further said the first lottery for compensatory land allotment will be held on August 15.