The State government will construct a new city to serve as the district headquarter of Palghar district. Officials said the new city will be constructed as a model town.
The Revenue Department have already agreed to provide 1,600 acres of land, senior officials said. The tribal-dominated Palghar district was carved out of Thane two years ago, and it does not have a headquarter yet. Its government offices are scattered in other districts, causing inconvenience to people in administrative matters.
The proposal of the State Revenue Department was approved by the State cabinet on Tuesday, senior officials said. The cost of construction of district offices in the planned city will be borne by the State government.
Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse told The Hindu , “We want this city to serve as an example for others, a model town with all the modern administrative amenities. All the district offices will be newly constructed and brought under one roof.”
The district is about 90 km from Mumbai, but scores poorly on many social indicators. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis approved the plan and even suggested the model city be developed by City Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO). An official said, “We have agreed to the CM’s idea and offered additional floor space index (FSI) and land for this model city.”
Heeding a a long pending demand from Palghar locals, the district was carved out of Thane, becoming Maharashtra’s 36th district. The population of Palghar is nearly a lakh, and the government is already promoting it as an art and culture hub.
The district is about 90 km from Mumbai, but scores poorly on many social indicators
