Activists have expressed grave concern over two marketing agencies appointed by CIDCO collectively taking away over 25 per cent of the entire Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna project cost. CIDCO is spending Rs 699 crore, while the total cost of the four projects is worth Rs 2,735 crore, including the expenditure incurred towards project management and architect consultants.
The PMAY projects are developed under four different packages. The construction of package-I worth Rs 4,963 crore is done at Taloja, package-II worth Rs 5,042 crore at Kharghar railway station forecourt and Kharghar, Kalamboli and Panvel bus/truck terminals/depots, package-III worth Rs 5,423 crore at Sanpada, Juinagar, Mansarovar (Kamothe) and Khandeshwar railway stations, and package-IV worth Rs 5,715 crore at Bamandongri and Kharkopar railway station forecourt areas of Navi Mumbai.
The flats constructed under the PMAY scheme include 50 per cent of the houses for the economically weaker sections and low-income groups, while remaining 50% of houses will be sold in the open market. Cidco is constructing 67,000 homes under these schemes now. It finances the projects by availing loans from banks/financial institutions and its internal accruals.
CIDCO had, in May 2022, appointed two marketing consultancy agencies, namely Heliosmedium Bazaar Pvt. Ltd, Belapur, and Thoughtrains Designs Pvt Ltd, Vashi. Questions about the efficiency and capability of CIDCO’s marketing experience and corruption have been raised.
A CIDCO official source said, “Advance payment to the tune of several crores has been made to the two marketing agencies. However, hardly any work is seen on the ground as the houses are not ready.”
