Civic body again fails to find any takers for land in Mani Majra

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 2

Hopes of the cash-strapped Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to earn a revenue of about Rs81 crore by auctioning a piece of land at Mani Majra for a specialty hospital have been dashed once again.

It was for the second time that the civic body had offered the land on a leasehold basis through an e-auction. However, again not even a single bidder showed interest in the auction. Interested parties had to file their bids by the mid of last month, but there were no takers for the land, measuring 2.74 acres.

“I think pricing is the issue. Those interested are finding the rates too high compared to the present rates in that area. We will discuss the matter and will refloat the tender with same changes,” said an official privy to the development.

The Leader of the Opposition in the MC, Devinder Singh Babla, said, “The price seems to be on the higher side. The MC should first priortise disposing of its showrooms and booths. It should fix a price that is attractive for buyers and also offer freehold properties. Otherwise, it will keep wasting money on advertisments and mainteance of its properties, while buyers will prefer Panchkula and Mohali.

The MC has a long history of failing to dispose of its vacant properties depsite repeated attempts. At present, several MC buildings are lying vacant. In Sector 17, Mauli Jagran, Mani Majra and other areas, its booths and other properties have been lying vacant for years.

The corporation has lost crores of rupees due to its failure to auction these. The MC wants to sell these at the market rate, but buyers have not shown any interest citing high prices. Some buyers even wanted freehold property, but the coporation failed to budge, thereby facing a huge loss.

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