Published in The Hitavada on Tuesday June 23 2009

Amidst talks of slowdown in realty market, a Nagpur-based company- M/s Neerja Realtors Private Limited has decided to come out with a Special Township project on Wardha Road in the vicinity of International Cricket Stadium of VCA.

The Special Township is coming up on 91.54 hectares land of Mouza Jamtha and Sondapar village of Hingana Tehsil of Nagpur district. In Mouza Sondapar survey numbers 23 to 39 and 53, 58, 60 and 61 have been included in the notification while in Mouza Jamtha survey numbers 259, 260, 261, 264, 265, 266, 267 and 280 have been shown as part of the Special Township.

This is the second Special Township approved in Nagpur district by the Urban Development Department (UDD) of Maharashtra Government. The first Special Township was proposed by M/s Luxora Housing at Mouza Pimpla after the Government came out with a slew of incentives for promoters of special integrated township projects. Under the special township scheme mooted by Urban Development Department on February 17, 2006, any integrated township coming up on area admeasuring more than 100 acre will get substantial exemption from stamp duty, discount on land cess and exemption from securing Non Agricultural permission. Apart from stipulation to leave 30 per cent open space for amenities like garden, ground and other common facilities, the special township promoter is entitled to get single window clearance for entire project without hassle. The scheme was mooted to boost integrated townships on city outskirts and several companies had shown interest, but in the aftermath of global meltdown, very few projects actually materialised.

M/s Neerja Realtors Private Limited had submitted copies of agreement to sale and 7/12 extracts of land admeasuring 91.54 hectare and Irrigation Department, Forest Department and Archaeological Department have given their consent for the project. Director of Town Planning too scrutinised the proposal and found it in accordance with the Development Control Rules for special townships. Therefore, the UDD has granted location clearance to Special Township mooted by M/s Neerja Realtors Private Limited under Section 18 (3) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. The UDD has imposed certain conditions like getting certified approach from Public Works Department as the existing approach road to the proposed project is proposed from 60 mt wide Express Way/Ring Road. Before issuing Letter of Intent, the promoter has been directed to get environmental impact assessment from Union Environment Ministry. The approach road width should not be less than 18 mt and developer has been directed to provide approach road for lands not included in the location clearance but are in the middle of the said Township project. In order to keep the land under Special Township integrate, the bridge connecting land bearing of Mouza Jamtha and Mouza Sondapar should be constructed as per Irrigation Department guidelines.