The 41-acre plot (16.5
hectares) is currently used as a customs godown -known as the Suleman Shah
compound-and part of it is marked as a green belt
MUMBAI: In the first major construction
on salt pan land in the city since the 1991 coastal regulations, a Rs
2,000-crore office-cum-residential complex of the Government of India will come
up over the next five years on the salt pan tracts at Wadala.
The 41-acre plot (16.5 hectares) is
currently used as a customs godown -known as the Suleman Shah compound-and part
of it is marked as a green belt. On May 7, the state urban development
department notified a change in the use of the land from godown to office,
residence and a sports complex. Land is a state subject. The Central Board of
Excise and Customs plans to build two twin towers to house 28 offices, 1,700
residential flats for officials of excise, customs and service tax, and a
sports complex for the residents' use.
D Stalin, director of NGO Vanashakti,
said Garodia Nagar at Ghatkopar was built on salt pan land more than 40 years
ago. "This will certainly be one of the biggest constructions in recent
years and will open the floodgates for construction on salt pans," he
said.
The BMC has identified 265 hectares of
salt pan land for affordable housing in its revised draft Development Plan
which will be publicized later in the week.
Two parcels of the customs land-14 acres
and three acres-are on one side of the Eastern Freeway and will be used for the
offices. Another 24 acres on the other side of the elevated road will be used
for the residences and the sports complex.
A senior customs officer said three
parcels of salt pan land (14 acres, 24 acres and three acres) at Wadala were
handed over to the board in 2003. Another 13 acres given to customs was given
for the development of the Anik-Wadala bus depot.
The property became attractive for real
estate development after construction of the Eastern Freeway. The official said
the Freeway has provided easy access to the area. A subway is proposed to
connect the residential quarters to the offices and the department plans to
introduce the 'walk to work' concept. The construction will be done either by
the central public works department or a public sector construction company. In
case of the latter, e-tenders will be invited, said the official.
"In 2004, the Centre set up an
advisory board to construct an office complex here. In 2005 and again in 2008,
there was part deletion of the plot from godown to office complex. In 2011, the
finance ministry gave an in-principle approval for the project. Last week, the
state urban development department issued the notification for the final
deletion," said the official.
Credit : http://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/
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