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Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council to hear traders before shifting them

Wednesday, 05 February 2014 11:50 administrator
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The Times of India           05.02.2014

Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council to hear traders before shifting them

CURCHOREM: Most of the occupants of the old municipal market building which has been declared unsafe by the Curchorem Cacora Municipal Council (CCMC) have insisted that the civic body accept their terms for rehabilitation before they vacate the premises.

The traders occupying the old municipal building have demanded transparency in the allotment of the shops to them in the proposed new commercial complex that is proposed to be constructed by the Goa state urban development agency (GSUDA) after demolishing the existing municipal market building.

"The municipality has failed in carrying out periodic maintenance of the building that has led to its deteriorated condition. The CCMC has not spent any money towards its repairs or maintenance for the last many years. It's unfair to make the traders suffer owing to the failure of the municipality in taking care of its building," a prominent businessman plying his trade in the old municipal building told TOI.

The traders have demanded that all the occupants should be allotted the same amount of carpet area as they are currently occupying in the old one, and that rehabilitation plans to house the displaced traders until the new building gets ready be worked out immediately.

Though the CCMC has asked GSUDA to make necessary arrangements for rehabilitation of the displaced traders in its market complex, the traders are skeptical about the issue.

CCMC chief officer Agnelo Fernandes has fixed February 6 to conduct a hearing of the occupants of the old municipal market building, who have been served notices by the civic body to vacate the premises.

Fernandes informed TOI that the hearing will be conducted at 3pm and urged all stakeholders to attend the meeting.

"I wish to give an opportunity to the lessees of the building to submit their views. The rehabilitation plans as well as the modalities for executing the lease agreement to occupy shops in the new commercial building will also be explained to them during the hearing. I will try to take everybody into confidence and arrive at an amicable solution before going ahead with the demolition of the old building," Fernandes said.

The proposal of the CCMC to construct a new commercial complex on the place where the old municipal building currently stands is awaiting the approval of the town and country planning (TCP) department, official sources said.

 

Finally, Cuncolim municipal council's commercial shops to be auctioned this week

Wednesday, 05 February 2014 11:49 administrator
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The Times of India           05.02.2014

Finally, Cuncolim municipal council's commercial shops to be auctioned this week

CUNCOLIM: The long pending demand for auctioning Cuncolim municipal council (CMC) commercial shops at Cuncolim market is finally scheduled for February 5 and 6. CMC is expecting a rent of about 15 lakh per annum from the 10 available shops.

Two shops are reserved for banks and commercial institutions, while the remaining small shops are other small businessmen. 120 small-time businessmen and five institutions have applied for the auction. CMC chairperson Devendra Dessai told TOI that it will be an open auction for the small shops while the commercial institutions auction will be based on sealed bids.

It may be recalled that the CMC has constructed the auditorium cum commercial market at Cuncolim market two years back. Former urban development minister Joaquim Alemao had initiated the project but even after its completion it remained un-inaugurated due to the election code. Local BJP workers had alleged corruption charges and demanded a vigilance inquiry.

The present government kept this project without inauguration for more than a year; but after the chief minister's intervention, the first phase of the project was inaugurated. Now, after two and half years of long waiting, the second phase of commercial shops will come in use. Speaking to TOI, Desai was certain that this project will help the council to be economically self-sustainable.

 

Pune Municipal Corporation strongly supports 4 FSI proposal

Wednesday, 05 February 2014 11:38 administrator
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The Times of India           05.02.2014

Pune Municipal Corporation strongly supports 4 FSI proposal

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has made it clear that declaring 4 floor space index (FSI) in metro corridors is the only way if Pune metro has to become a reality.

The civic body also warned civic organizations and politicians against opposing the move as it would make the project financially unviable. Earlier, activists and a section of state officials and the political class had openly expressed their reservations on the 4 FSI plan. They questioned the purpose and feasibility of the proposal on the grounds that it would add to the infrastructure burden of the city.

"Four FSI is must for densification and financial viability of the metro project. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has made the recommendation considering all factors. If the proposal is opposed, the PMC has no financial resources to complete this massive project. One has to understand the ground reality," said city engineer Prashant Waghmare on Tuesday.

The cost of the project has started multiplying and further delay could add to further burden, he added.

The state cabinet had in October, 2013, approved metro for Pune while pushing the completion deadline of phase one to 2021. The DMRC report expected the project will be completed by May 30, 2014.

In June 2012, the state cabinet approved the 14.925-km elevated route from Vanaz to Ramwadi while deciding that the phase-I of the project would be completed in five years i.e. by 2017.

The revised estimated cost of the project is now pegged at Rs 10,183 crore. Now, the Chinchwad-Swargate corridor will cost Rs 6,960 crore and the Vanaz-Ramwadi route will cost Rs 3,223 crore. The total cost (for both corridors) has increased by nearly Rs 2,199 crore, as compared to the estimated cost in 2009. State officials fear that even the revised cost estimates will have to be worked out considering the new completion deadline.

"How will the PMC raise money to build the metro?" asked Waghmare, adding that metro projects the world over could be completed by providing high FSI along the corridors. The DMRC has repeatedly said that metros are capital-intensive and building even a small stretch costs hundreds of crores of rupees, said Waghmare.

State finance officials have already questioned the metro financial model suggesting that the municipal corporation's share in the project be hiked to 20% from the existing 10%, while the state and the Centre should put in 20% each. The remaining amount should be raised by the Special Purpose Vehicle.

The DMRC has proposed 4 FSI on either side of the metro corridor to achieve greater population densification through vertical development of residential and commercial properties. The mass transport project would become economically viable through the funds generated, the DMRC report says.

The general body has okayed the plan while restricting developments within 10 metres of the corridor. The elected members have also approved the administration's proposal to seek suggestions and objections for modification of development control (DC) rules to this effect.

 
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