Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA) project, which has been mired in delays, is once again facing hurdles as local villagers have stopped infrastructure work started by the Industrial Development Corporation and of the City (CIDCO). Villagers have demanded that their concerns be addressed before any development begins.

The main point of contention is the 60:40 land sharing formula, under which CIDCO would receive 60% of the land while the villagers would retain 40% as developed land. Villagers are calling for this formula to be scrapped and instead advocate that land acquisition be done with fair compensation and that development follow the Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations (UDCPR), which currently govern projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area.

Recently, when contractors and CIDCO officials reached Devad village in Panvel—a region under the jurisdiction of NAINA—local residents blocked them, stating that no work would be allowed until their demands were met. “Our lands are being taken without compensation,” said Vinod Waghmare, the sarpanch of Devad village. “We want development under the UDCPR, which is implemented in the greater Mumbai area.”

NAINA is a major urban development initiative spanning 225.59 square kilometers and initially covering 23 villages under 12 urban planning schemes. It aims to transform a total of 94 villages around the Navi Mumbai International Airport into a modern and well-equipped city. However, until the demands of local stakeholders are resolved, the progress of this ambitious project remains uncertain.

BJP MLA Prashant Thakur has said the project cannot proceed until the arrests of the villagers are resolved, once again casting doubt on the future of the project.

While the project had been in limbo for over a decade, Vijay Singhal, who took over as CEO of CIDCO a few months ago, has aggressively taken it up. CIDCO, the special planning authority (SPA) of NAINA, is undertaking around $6,600 crore on road networks and related infrastructure projects in the region. The works include the construction of roads, bridges, vehicular overpasses, pedestrian overpasses, public lighting, sidewalks, drainage, etc.

Six tenders for $Prime Minister Narendra Modi mandated Rs 2,550 crore for integrated development in Town Planning Schemes (TPS) 2-7 just before the code of conduct came into force. CIDCO has also invited additional tenders for around $3,500 cr in the remaining TPS 8-12.

Those affected by the project (PAP) have been opposing the awarding of infrastructure works in the region for months and promised to campaign if they are accepted without their demands being resolved. Since the tenders have been awarded to companies owned by MVA and BJP leaders, the PAPs have declared that they will also oppose their leaders.

On Wednesday, when officials of the successful contractor of one of the projects, along with NAINA officials, arrived at Devad village for pre-work inspection and survey, the angry villagers made it clear that they will not allow perform the work until your demands are met. The officials had to return without work, due to strong opposition.

“Planned development through NAINA should be accepted as it will provide quality infrastructure and services. However, if the villagers do not want it, it should be voted on in the gram sabha to take a decision,” Thakur said. “In addition to the NAINA area, rural areas should also have social services and public infrastructure.

Former BJP Raigad zilla churchad member Amit Jadhav said that apart from locals, villagers from nearby Pali and Vichumbe also rushed to Devad to oppose the work.”

While CIDCO officials were not available for comment, Singhal had earlier commented on the opposition to the work saying, “Those who oppose it must understand that land is more beneficial than money that does not last. Land prices will skyrocket enormously due to the infrastructure and growth centers we have planned.