Open nullah transformed into multi-crore real estate Shops, parking lot stand where filth of city flowed till a few months ago

Open nullah transformed into multi-crore real estate

Shops, parking lot stand where filth of city flowed till a few months ago

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) is all set to turn the nullah at Vashi’s sector 16A into a prime real estate property worth crores of rupees. According to real estate experts, the market value of a commercial property in Vashi is around Rs30,000 per sq ft. “The civic body has constructed 30 kiosks at the spot. The authorities will take a decision later to either sell or rent the shops to florists, newspaper vendors, among others,” said Vikram Shinde, NCP corporator from this ward. “I feel the NMMC must give these kiosks on lease to locals and preference should be given to physically-challenged persons and ex-servicemen,” Shinde added. The work at this parking lot has entered the last stage and will be completed in a month’s time. Besides shops, this land will be utilised as a parking lot too. The civic body had planned to develop an open parking facility by covering a nullah that runs parallel to a road connecting Shivaji Chowk to the busy Palm Beach Road near Arenja Corner. The parking lot will accommodate 225 four-wheelers and around 200 two-wheelers. To accommodate an integrated drainage system, the NMMC widened and covered the nullah that was constructed by the City and Industrial Development Corporation nearly 35 years ago. Meanwhile, residents have welcomed the move. “Being a commercial hub, sector 17 has heavy traffic flow everyday. NMMC’s decision is welcome,” says Vashi resident Ameya C. A sector 16A resident Nitish Anand said, “After the NMMC began covering the nullah, the mosquito menace diminished drastically and so has the foul smell emanating from the place. The entire place has got a facelift.” Another resident has requested the NMMC to provide proper security at the proposed facility given the history of car break-ins in the area.