The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) of Navi Mumbai has come under scrutiny as hundreds of prospective bidders remain in limbo after paying substantial sums to participate in shop auctions, which have been repeatedly postponed.
The auction process, initially scheduled for May 22, faced technical glitches resulting in a crashed website during the critical bidding hours, leaving many unable to place their bids. CIDCO’s ambitious scheme to sell shops at the Bamandongri housing project via e-tender cum e-auction encountered significant setbacks when the website malfunctioned during the scheduled e-auction period. Despite assurances from CIDCO officials that the process would be rescheduled promptly, months have passed without any resolution, prompting frustration and financial strain among bidders.
According to aggrieved bidders, each participant had deposited a minimum of INR 4 lakh as Earnest Money Deposit (EMD), with some investing even more to bid on multiple shops. With approximately 1,736 applications received, the total amount tied up in deposits amounts to around INR 70 crore. Bidders have expressed concerns over CIDCO’s handling of the situation, criticizing the agency’s IT infrastructure and demanding accountability.
“We have been repeatedly assured of a fair resolution, but promises have consistently been unmet,” remarked one bidder, highlighting the financial burdens borne by participants who had taken loans or sold assets to fund their deposits. “CIDCO’s failure to manage its IT systems effectively is unacceptable. They should consider changing their IT agency if current capabilities are inadequate,” he added. Residents and stakeholders, frustrated by the delays and lack of clarity, have escalated their protests, threatening to organize demonstrations (morcha) and pursue legal action if CIDCO fails to expedite the auction process.
Calls for compensation, including interest payments for the prolonged delay, have intensified as bidders seek redressal for their financial hardships. Responding to queries, a CIDCO official acknowledged the technical challenges faced during the e-auction and assured that efforts were underway to rectify the issues. “Load testing is currently in progress, and we anticipate resuming the auction process by next week,” the official stated, indicating a tentative timeline for resolution.
