Pratap Sarnaik demands TMC delay Chitalsar Manpada TDR pending infrastructure upgrade

Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik has urged the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) to defer the proposed release of over 80 lakh square feet of Transferable Development Rights (TDR) for a reserved private plot in Chitalsar-Manpada, Thane.

Speaking during an inspection of the plot near Tikuji-ni-Wadi, Sarnaik demanded that the civic body first upgrade the city's infrastructure before permitting the TDR utilization. He questioned whether the already-strained system in the city can handle the additional burden.

Sarnaik questioned the rationale behind approving a massive TDR allocation at a time when Thane is already facing mounting pressure on essential services. He urged the civic administration to postpone the decision until adequate infrastructure is in place to support both existing and future residents.

"Before approving any TDR, the administration should have assessed whether the city has adequate water supply, electricity, roads, health care facilities, sewage treatment and solid waste management systems to accommodate the additional population," Sarnaik said. He added that the corporation must first prepare a roadmap to strengthen infrastructure before permitting TDR utilization.

The demand comes amid growing political opposition to the proposal. BJP and NCP (SP) functionaries have also expressed concerns regarding the city's ability to sustain such large-scale development given existing shortcomings in roads, water supply, and other civic amenities.

Sarnaik also raised concerns over the revised Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations. He claimed that under these regulations, developers already receive additional Floor Space Index benefits. He warned that if these benefits are combined with large-scale TDR, it could lead to increased construction and population growth without matching upgrades to roads, water supply, and other civic infrastructure.

Amid rising public concern over proposed construction activity near the city's forest fringes, Sarnaik directed officials to ensure that no development is permitted on the green portion of the land. He insisted that the area reserved for a public garden must remain a green zone, stressing that environmental protection should be given equal importance alongside urban development.