CIDCO Housing Scheme Allottees Protest High Prices, Small Size

Protestors form human chain, say they were cheated; MNS threatens to intensify agitation

- G Mohiuddin Jeddy

NAVI MUMBAI: A massive protest was held in Vashi on Tuesday by allotees of apartments under the City and Industrial Development Corporation's (CIDCO) mass housing scheme, 'My Preferred CIDCO,' over escalated prices and reduced size of flats. Protestors, including women, marched from Chhatrapati Shivaji Chowk to Arenja corner, formed a human chain there, and symbolically chained a photo of the CIDCO head office while raising slogans demanding a reduction in prices.

The protest was organised by the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), whose functionaries said party chief Raj Thackeray would take up the issue in due course if required. "CIDCO should reduce prices of flats by at least 30%," said MNS Navi Mumbai chief Gajanan Kale.