Mumbai, April 8 Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad alleged on Wednesday that the city civic body has proposed allotting a prime plot in the Worli area to a "favored builder" for establishing a five-star hotel at a very low price, and demanded that the auction be stopped.
"Do not allot the prime Worli plot for a five-star hotel and immediately stop the auction process," the Congress MP stated, alleging a "scam worth crores in the land deal".
When contacted, an official from the concerned department in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) did not respond to calls.
Gaikwad alleged that the BJP was "selling Mumbai," and prime civic plots were being put up for sale since the party gained control of the municipal administration.
She claimed that a 5,166 square meter plot in a key location in Worli is being proposed to be given to a "favored builder" for Rs 455 crore, which she termed as undervalued.
"The plot is being given at a very low price, causing losses worth crores to the municipal corporation and benefiting builders and those in power," she alleged in a letter addressed to the municipal commissioner and the mayor.
Gaikwad claimed that the BMC would receive only Rs 455 crore after auctioning the plot in Worli and about 1,300 square meter space for a testing laboratory in exchange for permitting a five-star hotel project.
She claimed that the terms of this deal appear to favor specific builders, and the developer will earn huge profits through the five-star hotel, while the municipal corporation will incur losses.
"There has been a scam worth crores in the Worli land deal. The Congress strongly opposes the unplanned auction of prime BMC properties," she said, reiterating her demand that the auction process be halted immediately and that safeguards be put in place to prevent losses to Mumbai and its residents.