Mafia eats into Rs480 crore University of Mumbai land

The University of Mumbai has lost about 4 acres of land, worth Rs480 crore, at the plush BKC Complex behind Kalina campus, to encroachers. Though the land belongs to the varsity, it falls outside the boundary of the Kalina campus and across the road.

Though there’s a board proclaiming the university ownership of the land, it is unguarded since 2004-05.

All these have made the property an easy grab for the slum mafia in Bharat Nagar.

Now, there are hundreds of shanties, inhabiting 5,000-6,000 people, spread over the land. Sources say a big builder is eyeing the property.

Realty experts say 1 acre of land in BKC area could be worth Rs 100-120 crore.

University officials have not only failed to save the land but are keeping mum over the years.

Sources say the university security staff used to man this land. The security was reportedly withdrawn in 2004-05, helping for slum lords.

“The varisty woke up around 2007 and approached the collector and Mumbai Police seeking help to reclaim the land,” a source told dna.

“The day of the demolition was November 26, 2008, the day terrorist attacks happened in Mumbai.

Everything changed that night, which included priorities of the collector and police... Taking benefit of the situation, slum lords established shanties again.” Some own up to 40 rooms.

Sanjay Vairal, who raised the issue in the Senate in October, says, “It is surprising that the university is not doing anything to save this precious land, rather indirectly supporting land mafia.”

 Spokesperson of the University and Pro-Vice Chancellor Naresh Chandra offered a lame excuse.

“There was not a single encroachment in the last three and a half years,” claimed Chandra, indirectly referring to the tenure of Vice Chancellor Rajan Welukar.

Asked about steps the  varsity has taken to reclaim the land, Chandra said, “The VC has written to the collector for demolition.” Asked about the date of the letter and also the collector’s response, Chandra sought a day’s time.

Usurping varsity land: An acre of land, say real-estate experts in the upmarket Bandra-Kurla Complex locality could be pegged around Rs 100crore-120 crore. The issue of the encroachment had been raised at the university’s senate meeting in October. The land has been unguarded since 2004.