NMRDA Acquires 893 Acres for New Nagpur Project, Farmers Compensated ₹2,160 Crore

The Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) has made significant progress in acquiring land for the New Nagpur project, securing 893 acres through direct purchases and compensating farmers with ₹2,160 crore. Currently, 202 farmers have agreed to surrender their land, while negotiations continue with 165 farmers who own approximately 600 acres and have yet to accept the government's proposal.

The New Nagpur project, located in the villages of Godhani and Ladgaon in Hingna taluka, requires a total of 676 hectares of land, of which 12 hectares are already government-owned. The remaining 664 hectares are to be acquired from private landowners. Initially, the process faced pushback from farmers who felt the compensation offered was inadequate, as it did not align with current market values. They demanded compensation five times the ready reckoner rates, threatening protests if their demands were ignored.

In response to the farmers' concerns, a meeting led by guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule resulted in a revised compensation plan offering five times the ready reckoner rate, along with a developed plot of 1,500 square feet for each acre surrendered. Following this decision, NMRDA began the acquisition process, and farmers have received letters confirming their entitlement to additional plots within the New Nagpur project once the layout is finalized.

Despite the improved compensation package, challenges remain in acquiring the remaining 600 acres. NMRDA officials are actively working to convince the remaining farmers to voluntarily surrender their land. Initially, the five-times compensation offer was set to expire at the end of September, but it has since been extended to encourage more participation, although no new deadline has been specified.

NMRDA has cautioned that if farmers do not voluntarily come forward, the remaining land could be acquired through the statutory process, which would result in compensation at four times the ready reckoner rate. This acquisition will be conducted under Section 19 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, meaning farmers would forfeit the additional benefits provided under the direct purchase scheme. The state government aims to develop New Nagpur in three phases over the next 15 years, making the completion of land acquisition vital for the project's acceleration as a key urban and economic hub in the Nagpur metropolitan area.