CMRDA begins development plan for 343 villages around Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

The CMRDA has started preparing a development plan to stop unchecked sprawl in the villages adjoining Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city and to bring planned development there. G. Sreekanth, chief executive officer of the CMRDA and divisional commissioner, has spelt out the authority's position.

According to Sreekanth, the plan will mainly fix road reservations on private land. Government land will be used for grounds, gardens, schools and colleges, hospitals and other public facilities. He said private landowners will not suffer losses and will also get a chance to develop their land.

The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Metropolitan Region Development Authority's jurisdiction covers 343 villages in seven talukas. Industrial expansion in the city and its surroundings is moving fast because of the MIDC and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). Industries have already registered on about 10,000 acres acquired for the DMIC, leaving little land for new industries. A notification for the third phase of land acquisition has therefore also been issued. Alongside industrial growth, the CMRDA is preparing this plan to provide for roads and basic infrastructure in the surrounding villages.

A total of 143 officers and employees have been deployed for the work. A project management consultant (PMC) has also been appointed to prepare the plan. The emphasis will be on building a network of roads to ease movement within the villages, and road reservations will be placed on private land for this. Sreekanth said landowners concerned will not suffer losses in the process and will have the chance to develop their land.

Reservations on government land will be fixed for grounds, gardens, schools and colleges, hospitals, cremation grounds, fire stations, police stations, MSEB substations, government offices, markets, commercial complexes, bus stations and research centres. This will let the available government land be used to develop public facilities.

Approval of a layout will be mandatory when developing private land within the CMRDA's jurisdiction. While approving layouts, the plan is to reserve 10 per cent of the space for public facilities and various government purposes. If the necessary facilities are developed on these sites, people in the area will benefit.