The City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) has significantly reduced betterment charges for farmers in the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) after its plan to impose up to 50 per cent of the increased land value as betterment charges drew widespread opposition from landowners.
Farmers and developers argued that the high charges discouraged investment and delayed infrastructure projects in the region. In response, the Maharashtra government intervened, directing Cidco to review its decision. After discussions, Cidco’s board, in a meeting on Monday, approved a minimal charge of 0.05 per cent, bringing significant relief to farmers and landowners.
The decision came after Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur and Uran MLA Mahesh Baldi met Cidco MD Vijay Singhal, representing the plight of the farmers and the landowners.
The decision aligns with the demands of developers’ associations and political leaders, who had consistently called for a reduction in the charges.
Now there is renewed optimism that investment in NAINA will gain momentum and long-stalled projects will move forward. The reduction is expected to encourage more participation from developers and streamline land development in NAINA, which had been facing uncertainty due to financial constraints imposed by the earlier proposal.
The revised charges now provide a more favourable environment for both farmers and investors.
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