Overview
- The Vadodara Municipal Corporation standing committee unanimously approved the allotment on Friday, October 23, granting Yusuf Pathan 978 square metres with 500 sq m gifted and 478 sq m offered at 55% of the VUDA valuation.
- All 12 members of the committee are BJP corporators and the decision drew street protests from Congress leaders and objections from the Vishwamitri Bachao Samiti over fairness and transparency.
- The plot has been contested since Pathan applied in 2012, the state rejected a sale in 2014, court challenges followed, and Pathan withdrew his High Court appeal on August 31 after the state signalled approval.
- The land was valued at Rs 2.10 lakh per square metre when VMC readied it for auction earlier this year, putting the full plot near Rs 20.5 crore and making the gift and concessional sale a significant financial concession.
- A separate proposal by ex-corporator Bandish Shah seeks municipal land for Radha Yadav’s outdoor cricket academy that would be built at private expense and pay rent, and the VMC’s response will test whether sports-use alternatives reshape the dispute.