Navi Mumbai: The citizens of Navi Mumbai are raising strong objections against what they call an unjust and unlawful practice by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), which continues to impose transfer charges during property transactions. Local residents and civic groups argue that these charges have become a major financial burden, especially affecting deemed conveyance and redevelopment projects across the city.
Despite repeated appeals by housing federations and civic organizations, CIDCO has failed to roll back the contentious charges, which many believe are illegal and unfair. These transfer fees are being demanded even though the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is now the sole provider of municipal services and infrastructure development in the city — funded entirely through property taxes paid by citizens.
"This amounts to double taxation," residents claim, pointing out that they are being made to pay property tax to NMMC while also being forced to pay arbitrary transfer fees to CIDCO, which no longer plays any active role in city governance or service delivery.
Adding to the frustration is the issue of leasehold-to-freehold land conversion. AT the meeting it has highlighted that although the Urban Development Department of the Government of Maharashtra, through a Government Resolution (GR) dated October 11, 2024, instructed CIDCO to facilitate this conversion, the charges demanded remain unreasonably high — unaffordable for most ordinary citizens.
Citizen groups have expressed deep concern over CIDCO's continuing exploitation despite its strong financial standing as a government body. “It is unacceptable that CIDCO, while contributing nothing to Navi Mumbai’s present upkeep, continues to extract money from residents through outdated and unjustified charges,” said a representative from one of the housing federations.
In a united front, the Navi Mumbai Citizens Foundation, Sahakar Bharati, Navi Mumbai Co-operative Housing Federation Ltd., and Navi Mumbai Vyapari Mahasangh have jointly issued a demand for the immediate abolition of all transfer charges levied by CIDCO.
