AAI’s Juhu property locked in rent dispute

Mumbai: A slice of prime real estate, which could fetch the Airports Authority of India (AAI) upwards of Rs 10 lakh in land rental, is sitting idle at the Juhu aerodrome, courtesy a longstanding dispute between two government agencies and an errant tenant.
AAI leased out approximately 800 sq m of land to Indian Airlines decades ago. On it, the airline constructed an enclosed structure, which it later sub-leased to a private tenant, Shobha Singh & Sons, when it shifted operations to the Santacruz airport. However, poor paperwork and a lackadaisical attitude meant that neither company collected rentals from their respective tenants over the years.
Now, Indian owes AAI Rs 80 lakh as outstanding dues and Shobha Singh— who was in the business of spraying pesticides using aircraft in the 70’s and 80’s— owes the airline Rs 16 lakh. Both parties are unwilling to cough up their respective amounts. The structure currently houses wreckage and storage material and has remained locked for several years.
18/07/07 Lekha Agarwal/Mumbai Newsline

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Categories: Airports Jul 2007