Say it's high time that the state clarified whether the proposed airport would be built or not; want CIDCO to stop mentioning the airport in its tenders
As uncertainty looms large over the construction work for the proposed Navi Mumbai international airport, the builder lobby in the region wants the state government to clear it once and for all whether the airport would be constructed or not.
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The builders also want the CIDCO to refrain itself from mentioning about the airport in its tenders, which they believe is the reason behind spiralling prices of real estate in the region. Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI) President for Navi Mumbai Arvind Goel said the builders would soon be seeking an answer from the chief minister about the airport.
He said, “The chief minister needs to tell us once and for all whether the airport would be built or not. We had pinned high hopes on the airport and it is time we have a clear picture about the project.” Goel also claimed that the delay is costing the government about Rs 100 crore a year. “In the last 10 years, the cost of the airport has gone up from Rs 400 crore to Rs 1,400 crore,” he said.
Another builder said it was also time for CIDCO to stop advertising the upcoming airport in every tender it floated. “The CIDCO should understand where to draw the line. Every tender it floats has a mention of the airport. This has not only escalated real estate prices in the region but has also made it costly to acquire plots,” the builder said.
Though a senior CIDCO official claimed that paperwork for the airport was in the final stage, he appeared to be clueless about the date for actual commencement of the work. “Negotiations are on. All I can say is that the airport will be constructed soon. We are working out a way to meet the demands of the project-affected people,” he said.