Complete Land Acquisition for All State Projects Within the Set Timelines: CM Devendra Fadnavis

Ensure No Project Faces Delays Due to Land Issues, Says Maharashtra CM

Mumbai : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed that land acquisition for all major infrastructure and development projects in Maharashtra be completed as per the designated timelines, ensuring that no project is stalled due to land-related issues. He emphasized the need for all concerned departments to act proactively and in coordination to keep projects on schedule.

CM Fadnavis issued these instructions while reviewing the progress of land acquisition for key state projects at a high-level meeting held at his official residence, Varsha.

Projects reviewed included:

• Nagpur–Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway
• Virar–Alibaug Corridor
• Jalna–Nanded Expressway
• Pune Ring Road (East, West, and Extension)
• Bhandara–Gadchiroli Expressway
• Nagpur–Chandrapur Expressway
• Nagpur–Gondia Expressway
• Navegaon (Mor)–Surjagad Mineral Corridor
• Vadhavan–Igatpuri Expressway

Additionally, land acquisition progress for rail projects such as Wardha–Nanded and Wardha–Gadchiroli, as well as airport developments in Kolhapur, Karad, Akola, Gadchiroli, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, was also reviewed.

CM Fadnavis warned that project delays lead to significant cost escalation, and thus, all departments have been given a specific timeline for land acquisition. He urged officials to work in “mission mode”, take the process seriously, and ensure swift and structured progress.

Key directives from the Chief Minister:

• The Shaktipeeth Expressway must be planned using the PM Gati Shakti platform, minimizing forest land impact. The Finance Department must allocate the ₹12,000 crore needed for its land acquisition.
• For the Virar–Alibaug Corridor, especially the Morbe to Karanja stretch which passes through forest and mangrove areas, all environmental permissions must be obtained immediately, while administrative processes run in parallel.
• A proposal should be submitted to include the Vadhavan–Igatpuri Expressway under the Sagarmala Scheme.
• The Jalna–Nanded Expressway’s land acquisition at Selu in Parbhani district must be completed within 15 days.
• Finalize the detailed project reports for Bhandara–Gadchiroli, Nagpur–Chandrapur, and Nagpur–Gondia expressways using Gati Shakti tools.
• Complete the land acquisition for Wardha–Gadchiroli and Wardha–Nanded railway lines within 15 days to kick-start construction.

On airport development:

• The Gadchiroli airstrip should undergo Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) survey, and the District Collector must send the final proposal.
• At Akola, the runway length should be extended to 2,400 meters, and a modern, large-scale airport must be developed there.

The Chief Minister also proposed a budget allocation of ₹53,354 crore for land acquisition across 11 key infrastructure projects.

Senior officials present included:

• Rajesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue Department
• Manisha Mhaiskar, Additional Chief Secretary, Public Works Department
• Milind Mhaiskar, Additional Chief Secretary, Forest Department
• Sanjay Sethi, Additional Chief Secretary, Transport and Ports Department
• O.P. Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department
• Asim Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department
• Anil Gaikwad, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC)

CM Fadnavis reiterated that expedited and quality land acquisition is critical to Maharashtra’s growth and that all stakeholders must remain committed to delivering results.