Allegations Surface Over 11-Acre Land Deal in Airoli

Reports have emerged about a potential plan to transfer 11 acres of prime land in Airoli, initially reserved for foreign embassies, to a prominent businessman under the pretext of developing a township. It is alleged that CIDCO, the Construction and Development Agency, might have tailored the tender terms to favor specific developers, possibly leading to a financial impact estimated at around ₹8,000 crores.

The proposal for this land, located in Airoli Sector-10A, was reportedly discussed during a CIDCO Board of Directors meeting on August 6. However, the plan has been put on hold until the Request for Proposal (RFP) document is made available. Although the tender was released on August 8, the RFP document has yet to be published on the government's Mahatender portal, which has raised concerns. No official explanation has been provided regarding this delay.

According to sources, CIDCO had initially engaged Cushman & Wakefield as consultants for the project. However, it is claimed that their recommendations were not adopted by CIDCO's management, as they reportedly did not ensure that CIDCO would recover the land's value. This has led to suspicions of a potential land transaction worth ₹8,000 crores.

Subsequently, DSK Legal was brought in to review the RFP document to safeguard CIDCO's interests. As of now, no legal advice has been received, and the tender documents remain unpublished.

There are also reports that some senior officials within CIDCO and the Urban Development Department have expressed concerns over the proposal, citing the risk of significant financial losses for CIDCO and potential corruption issues.