Mangalore: With an eye on developing what will be the largest planned layout in the district, the Mangalore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) has requested the government to hand over nearly 750 acres of land, that had been allotted to a private company on the fringes of Baikampady Industrial Estate, to the district administration.

In a resolution passed during the MUDA meeting held recently, members and political representatives vowed to ask the government to cancel the allocation made to Jayaprakash Engineering and Steel Company (Jesco).

As reported by The Hindu on November 16, the vast tracts of land lie unused since 2000 when nearly 986.5 acres of land was handed over to the company. Though the company had sought extension of lease from the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) by modifying its proposals — from an integrated steel plant to a software park and then to a Rs. 1,500-crore integrated fertilizer plant in late 2012 — MUDA officials are confident that the government’s patience is running thin. “The extension sought in 2011 has ended. And we are pressing for the land to be allotted to us instead. The layout concept will change the face of planned development here,” said MUDA Commissioner Mohammad Nazeer.

With the land spanning Baikampady, 62 Thokur, Kenjar and Kulai revenue villages, nearly 350 acres can be developed by MUDA into a layout. Considering that one acre can house at least 20 sites — 45 per cent will be reserved for open space, civic amenities and roads — the layout will see more than 7,000 sites. “It is close to airport road, the National Highways and Baikampady, and so there will be great demand for the sites…

The middle class and the EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) will greatly benefit,” said Mr. Nazeer.

The remaining will be handed over to the KIADB to extend the industrial estate and to the district administration to build a truck terminal and a stadium, he said.
Affordable houses

In order to seek funds under the Central government’s Affordable Housing in Partnership scheme — which will subsidise Rs. 75,000 for EWS houses — the MUDA will present a “cost benefit analysis” for availing the scheme in its 13-acre Konaje and 72-acre Chelyar layouts.

With the scheme giving the subsidy to only houses that are 350 square feet the analysis would work out MUDA’s contribution to make the houses more attractive for buyers.