The Revenue and Forest Department issued the Government Resolution (GR No. Sankirna-2026/Pr.Kr.20/Bhoosampadan-04) on July 21, 2026, restructuring the committee responsible for granting prior approval to high-value land acquisition awards before they are declared by district collectors.

The decision follows the reorganisation of ministerial departments undertaken by the General Administration Department on June 24, 2026. As part of this administrative restructuring, the government has replaced the earlier committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests and Land Acquisition) with a newly constituted committee chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue).

The requirement for prior government approval stems from the notification issued on January 11, 2024, under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Maharashtra) Rules, 2014. Under Rule 18(3), whenever compensation payable in a land acquisition case exceeds ₹100 crore, the District Collector must submit the draft award to the State Government through the Divisional Commissioner for prior approval before issuing the final award.

The government said the committee has been reconstituted to enable quicker examination of draft awards and ensure quality decision-making in high-value land acquisition cases.

According to the Government Resolution, the reconstituted committee will comprise senior officers from multiple departments to facilitate coordinated decision-making.

The committee will be chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) and will include the Additional Chief Secretaries of Forests, Public Works and Agriculture as members. Other members include the Principal Secretary of the Law and Judiciary Department, the Administrative Secretary or Head of the concerned acquiring department, the Inspector General of Registration and Controller of Stamps, the Joint Director of Town Planning and Valuation Department, the concerned District Collector and the Joint Secretary (Land Acquisition), who will serve as the Member Secretary.

The government has also clearly defined the committee’s responsibilities.

Its primary role will be to examine every draft land acquisition award received by the State Government and verify whether it complies with the provisions of the applicable land acquisition laws and rules. Based on this examination, the committee will recommend whether the proposal should receive government approval.

The committee has also been authorised to invite subject matter experts or competent officers as special invitees whenever technical evaluation of issues other than land valuation becomes necessary.

In addition, the head of the acquiring authority involved in a particular land acquisition project may also be invited to committee meetings whenever required to provide project-specific inputs.

The new mechanism is expected to improve coordination among various government departments involved in large infrastructure and public development projects where land acquisition compensation exceeds ₹100 crore.

Projects involving agencies such as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), irrigation departments and other infrastructure authorities are likely to benefit from faster scrutiny of draft awards under the revised framework.

By bringing together senior officials from the Revenue, Forest, Agriculture, Public Works, Law, Registration and Town Planning departments on a single platform, the government aims to reduce procedural delays and ensure timely approval of high-value compensation awards while maintaining legal compliance and transparency.

The Government Resolution has been issued with the approval of the Governor of Maharashtra and takes immediate effect across the state.

Also Read: Maharashtra Cracks Down on Delays in Land Acquisition Court Cases

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The Finance Department issued a fresh government resolution (GR) cancelling its earlier June 12, 2025 decision and replacing it with a revised approval based on updated Cabinet directives.

What the New Approval Means

The state guarantee allows MSRDC to borrow ₹22,250 crore from HUDCO, the financial institution funding key infrastructure projects across India. This borrowing will be exclusively used for acquiring land for the VAMMC corridor.

The approval was granted after the Cabinet validated the draft Guarantee Agreement between MSRDC and HUDCO, ensuring the loan terms comply with the state’s financial rules.

Strict Conditions Imposed by the Finance Department

The state guarantee comes with 17 mandatory conditions, signalling strict monitoring of the loan’s use and repayment. Key conditions include:

1. Loan validity and cap

• The loan must be raised within 12 months from the date of GR.
• The guarantee applies strictly to ₹22,250 crore only—no additional borrowing allowed.

2. Repayment responsibility

• MSRDC will be the principal debtor.
• The state government will not be liable for penalties, delayed payment interest, or additional charges.

3. Escrow Account Mandate

An independent Escrow Account must be opened to:

• Receive the loan,
• Channel project revenues,
• Ensure transparent repayment to HUDCO.

4. Default Protocol

In case MSRDC delays repayment:

• HUDCO must notify the government within 90 days.
• MSRDC must first auction mortgaged properties or assets to clear dues.
• HUDCO cannot invoke the state guarantee without exhausting all recovery efforts.

5. Usage Restriction

The loan must be used exclusively for the VAMMC land acquisition purpose, with no diversion.

Guarantee Fee Structure

• MSRDC must pay a 0.50% per annum guarantee fee.
• Payments are due twice every year—on April 1 and October 1.
• Late payments attract:
  • 16% interest for the first 3 months, and
  • 24% thereafter.

VAMMC: Maharashtra’s Transformational Transport Spine

Once completed, the Virar–Alibaug Multi-Modal Corridor will become:

• A 126-km long express connectivity spine linking MMR’s western, central, and southern ends.
• A connector integrating road, rail, metro, freight, and passenger transport.
• A project expected to reduce congestion, unlock new townships, and catalyse economic activity across 6+ growth zones.

Land acquisition is the project’s most extensive and expensive phase—making this ₹22,250 crore guarantee a critical catalyst.

Government’s Revised Resolution Replaces Earlier Policy

The new resolution:

• Cancels the June 12, 2025 GR,
• Approves a revised and Cabinet-backed arrangement,
• Grants signing powers to designated officials in the PWD and Finance Department to execute the updated loan agreements.

The post Maharashtra Govt Approves ₹22,250 Cr State Guarantee for Virar–Alibaug Multi-Modal Corridor Land Acquisition appeared first on Square Feat India.

The decision was taken in line with the Cabinet resolution dated August 26, 2025, and formalized through a government resolution (GR) issued on October 3, 2025.

Strategic Role of Nagpur

Nagpur serves as a critical economic and logistical centre for Maharashtra and adjoining states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. With a population reach of over 500 km, the city functions as a hub for IT, healthcare, education, and industrial services.

Known as “Orange City” for its thriving citrus trade, Nagpur also boasts a robust international logistics park, which plays a key role in the storage and transportation of goods — particularly agricultural and mineral commodities. The new expressway extension aims to leverage this strength to spur development in adjoining districts.

Expressway Alignment and Scope

The approved expressway alignment includes three main components:

Total Length: 162.577 km

The route starts from Manapur Interchange on the Nagpur Bypass and extends through Bhandara district before reaching Gondia. The project is designed as a controlled access expressway, ensuring faster, safer travel while supporting regional logistics.

Economic and Social Impact

The Nagpur–Gondia Expressway is expected to catalyse economic activity in tribal, mineral-rich, and underdeveloped areas of Vidarbha — notably Nagpur, Bhandara, Gondia, Gadchiroli, and Chandrapur districts.

Key expected benefits include:

• Industrial growth in mineral and agriculture processing sectors
• Improved market access for farmers and rural enterprises
• Job creation through infrastructure and subsequent industry
• Stronger integration of tribal and interior regions with mainstream economic networks

The project is also expected to improve connectivity in Naxal-affected areas, supporting security, mobility, and overall regional development.

Funding & Land Acquisition

The project will be implemented by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC). The government has granted administrative approval for land acquisition, with the following sanctioned amounts:

• ₹2,006.03 crore – Principal (Land Cost)
• ₹1,156.16 crore – Interest
• Total: ₹3,162.18 crore

Land acquisition will be taken up immediately, followed by the preparation of detailed financial and technical reports. Final Cabinet approval will allow MSRDC to execute the project using the existing Public Works Department model.

The state has also committed to cover any revenue shortfall in MSRDC’s revenue stream to ensure timely repayment of HUDCO loans, a clause included in HUDCO’s Comfort Letter.

Official Notification

The Government Resolution (GR) is available on www.maharashtra.gov.in. It marks the official administrative sanction for the project’s land acquisition phase and implementation under MSRDC’s purview.

A Boost for Eastern Maharashtra

The Nagpur–Gondia Expressway is more than a transport project — it’s a strategic investment in the Vidarbha region’s socio-economic future. By linking tribal, agricultural, and mineral-rich areas to Nagpur’s logistics and industrial ecosystem, Maharashtra aims to balance regional development and unlock new growth corridors.

Also Read: MSRDC Plots Worth Rs 15,000 Crore Up For Grabs

The post Nagpur–Gondia Expressway Gets Green Signal: ₹3,162 Crore Sanctioned for Land Acquisition appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

A total of 19 townships are being constructed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in the state. 

Of this four townships will come up in Thane district. 

The 19 townships will come up along the Maharahtra Samruddhi Mahamarg. The 701 kilometer long expressway will connect Mumbai to Nagpur. 

The four townships in Thane are Fulgate, Kasgaon, Lenad and Mouje Chinchavali. 

The other are in Virul, Kelzar in Wardha, Savargaonmal and Mehkar in Buldhana. 

Aurangabad will have Hadas Pimpalgaon, Ghaigaon and Babtara as new towns that shall be developed by MSRDC.

Hingana in Nagpur, and Jamwadi in Jalna also will be developed into new towns. 

In Amravati district, Dhamangaon and Nandgaon will be developed as towns. 

Washim will have three new developments in Karanja, Manglurpir and Malegaon. 

There will be one new town developed in Ahmednagar district, it will be Savali Vihir. 

According to Radheshyam Mopalwar, Managing Director, MSRDC, these townships when fully developed will have a population of 1 lakh each. 

A senior official from MSRDC said, “The new development will have well planned road infrastructure, all social amenities like school, gardens and playgrounds.” 

Also these towns will have defined industrial, residential, and commercial sectors. Electric amid digital connectivity and water availability, along with proper drainage system. 

Senior Official, MSRDC

MSRDC will act as the New Town Development Authority (NTDA) for the development and growth of these new towns. 

The new towns are proposed at the intersection of the expressway and national or state highways with an average distance of 30 to 40 kilometer from each other. 

According to MSRDC officials, the acquisition of land in six such township project shall commence from Summer of 2021. 

Also Read: MSRDC Plots Worth Rs 15,000 Crore Up For Grabs

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By Varun Singh

Prime plots belonging to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in Mumbai will soon be up for grabs.

There are other plots belonging to MSRDC located on Mumbai-Pune Expressway that will also be auctioned by the corporation.

Of the three prime MSRDC plots in Mumbai one is located at Napean Sea Road and two are at Bandra.

Confirming the same Radheshyam Mopalwar Vice Chairman & Managing Director, MSRDC said, “We expect Rs 15,000 crore from the auctioning of these plots.”

An international property consultancy firm has been appointed to assist MSRDC in the auction of these plots.

The Request For Quotation of Napean Sea Road plot was floated last year in August. However, with the real estate market not being in best of its shape, the process was pushed ahead,

Vijay Waghmare, Joint Managing Director, MSRDC said all the plots will given out on a long lease. This long lease period could be between 30 to 60 years.

In Bandra one of the plots currently has a casting yard, which is soon expected to be vacant and other plot is nearby to it.

The dates when the tenders for auctioning of these plots shall be decided after a board meeting of the corporation.

“We expect Rs 15,000 crore from the auctioning of these plots.”

Radheshyam Mopalwar Vice Chairman & Managing Director, MSRDC

According to a realtor, Mumbai for long hasn’t seen any land parcel or a huge plot being auctioned.

The plots would have come in the market a bit early but because of the pandemic and the downturn in the sector delayed the process.

“MSRDC is expecting Rs 15,000 crore, but the amount they will finally generate shall depend on the market situation too. While the condition isn’t very good now, but when it comes to open plots, one can never say,” said the realtor.

Meanwhile, on the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (Mumbai-Nagpur Expressway) a total of 19 townships will be built.

According to Mopalwar these townships will have close to 1 lakh population each, and land for six townships shall be acquired as soon a summer of 2021. Post which a development plan for these townships will be prepared too.

The expressway connecting Mumbai and Nagpur is 701 kilometer long and the total project cost is Rs 55,335 crore.

Also Read: Indiabulls takes possession of Villas, flats connected to Wadhawans in Mumbai

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