Minister Inspects Proposed Residential Layout in Mangaluru

On Monday, Dinesh Gundu Rao, the district minister for Dakshina Kannada, conducted a site inspection at Kunjathbail within the limits of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). The visit was aimed at reviewing a proposed residential layout planned by the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA).

Concerns Over Pricing and Land Acquisition

During the inspection, the minister engaged in discussions with key officials, including Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV, MUDA Chairman Sadashiva Ullal, and Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer. Following the meeting, Rao highlighted that the high price set for sites at Kunjathbail has contributed to a lack of interest from potential buyers. He emphasized the necessity of completing pending works before actively marketing the sites to attract buyers.

“The high price fixed for sites at Kunjathbail is one of the reasons for the lack of response from buyers,” Rao told reporters. He has instructed the Deputy Commissioner to provide monthly updates on the progress of all MUDA layouts. Furthermore, the minister has set a deadline for the completion of work on the Konaje layout by November 2023, noting that improvements to roads and electricity supply are currently underway.

Rao expressed confidence in the potential of the Konaje layout, stating that once the work is finished, buyers would be more inclined to pay the full amount for the sites. He previously discussed the Kunjathbail project during a visit to the MUDA office earlier this month, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the land acquisition process.

Current Status of Kunjathbail Development

According to Rao, the Kunjathbail project is projected to be unprofitable due to significant expenses already incurred in land acquisition. He stated that the project is unlikely to generate profit for MUDA. Despite the development of 208 sites across 17.4 acres at Kunjathbail, located approximately 12 kilometers from Mangaluru city, the authority has received minimal applications from homebuyers over the past two years.

Chairman Ullal confirmed that the elevated pricing was a significant factor in the poor response from buyers. He noted that during a recent meeting, MUDA resolved to consider a price reduction, which was reiterated during the minister’s inspection. The authority has developed roads with widths of 30 to 40 feet and allocated areas for parks and open spaces within the layout.

As the Kunjathbail project progresses, the minister’s oversight and directives aim to enhance buyer engagement and ensure the successful completion of residential developments in the region.