NIT leases out roads to pvt co for commercial use

Nagpur: Contrary to the popular belief that road is a public property to be used by the public, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has, on September 27, not only leased out a road fully and another partially to a private company but also agreed to let it use the same for commercial purpose.
According to sources, during an auction, the private company had reportedly quoted Rs26.84 crore for the 20,305 sqm land, situated in prime location at Eastern Industrial Area Street Scheme, mouza Chikhali (deosthan), Kalamna in East Nagpur, for construction of a warehouse and cold storage and the NIT executed lease deed.
The NIT had reportedly handed over possession of the land on July 14.
The NIT had earmarked the land in Eastern Industrial Area Street Scheme for shifting wholesale grain market from Itwari. Land measuring 18,498.88 sq.mt, between the wholesale market and road connecting two 18-metre wide roads of the scheme, was lying unused. On the other side of the road is public utility (PU) land housing Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s Kalamna fire station.
The unused land was main part of the auction. Along with this land, the NIT has leased out the road situated between wholesale grain market and the PU land to the successful bidder. Part of the road situated on the right side of the land has also been reportedly leased out to the company.
Two senior NIT officials, requesting anonymity, confirmed that the road and part of another street has been leased out to the private company. “We have not allowed construction on these particular areas. The land has been leased out subject to the decision by the state government. The lessee can use it for commercial purpose if the government changes the land use reservation. Had the NIT not leased out the land, it would have lost hefty revenue,” they said.
Advocate Anil Kumar Mulchandani told TOI, “Lawmakers are themselves violating the norms. They are no more regulatory authorities but have become regularizing authorities. It is brazen violation of rules to lease out road or its part for commercial use. Earlier also, some area of a garden was allotted for residential purpose subject to deletion of reservation by the government. An inquiry is going on in this case. Yet, the NIT has continued to violate the rules again.”
Shiv Sena leader Nitin Tiwari said during the BJP rule in the past, the NIT had gifted many such public roads to industries and commercial establishments. “After BJP coming to power, the NIT has started doing the same again,” he said, adding the authorities do not care about providing basic amenities to the people.
“Detailed inquiry followed by action should be taken against all officials and public representatives involved,” he said.
Former NIT trustee and BJP leader Bhushan Shingane admitted it was indeed a major violation. “Regularization cases of poor people are pending with the NIT. Often, officials cite orders of the high court and reservation of roads to keep the matter pending. When it comes to influential people, the NIT gifts roads and reserved areas. NIT should treat all equally,” he said.
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IAN
*Eastern Industrial Area Street Scheme was approved in 1967
*Plots nos. 172 to 267 were vacant and two internal roads existed thereon
*Government revised plan and converted area of all plots and two roads from industrial to commercial
*NIT proposed this space for new wholesale grain market, to be shifted from Itwari,
* The NIT had excluded six plots — 172, 203, 204, 235, 236, 267 which was taken up for auction
*Road exists near these plots and also on the right side of plot no. 267
*NIT leased out the six plots, a road completely and another partially for commercial use
*The successful bidder proposes to construct warehouse and cold storage
*Road or its part cannot be allotted for commercial purpose unless the land use reservation is changed by the government