Mumbai: Over 300 families of Navi Mumbai Police personnel will have access to better housing, with the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) deciding to transfer land in Sector 1, Belapur to the police department. The 11,262-sq.m. is home to close to 324 police personnel, and was given for their use by CIDCO in 1979.
Confirming that paperwork for the transfer has already begun, DCP (Headquarters) Sudhakar Pathare said CIDCO has waived off most of the ₹3.14 crore that the police department owed it for using the land all these years. He said the outstanding amount was reduced to ₹35 lakh after a meeting between Minister of State for Home Dr. Ranjit Patil, BJP MLA from Belapur Manda Mhatre, Commissioner of Police Hemant Nagrale and CIDCO officials on Monday, and will be paid by the State Home Department. “The land will be developed into a police colony with better amenities and facilities,” Mr. Pathare added.
A dilapidated existence
The families residing here occupy dilapidated houses built by CIDCO nearly 40 years ago. Ranjani Patil, mother of a constable attached to Vashi police station, claimed existing conditions are pathetic. “I have stayed here for 30 years. After my husband’s death, my son joined the police and I stay with him. I’m sure there isn’t a place in worse condition than this: it is constantly flooded during the rains, the toilets leak, slabs fall off. The authorities don’t help us, so residents do repairs when needed. We have no option but to stay here, as staying elsewhere in Navi Mumbai is a costly affair. I hope the formalities are expedited and the government provides us proper housing.”
Residents say they have gone to court twice demanding the government provide them with better housing, but in vain. “We pay rent stipulated by the government and have been repeatedly assured of a better place to stay. Now, we are waiting to see the improvement to believe it,” Ms. Patil said.
Ms. Mhatre, the local MLA, claimed she has been trying to get the land transferred to the police department since 2004. “After almost 13 years, the efforts have borne fruit.”
