Compulsory Land Acquisition Initiates for Pune’s Transformative Ring Road; Non-Consenting Farmers to Relinquish Possession

Pune, 5th February 2024: The ambitious project to construct the Ring Road, poised to reshape the landscape of Pune district, is progressing with a pivotal phase of land acquisition. Until January 31, the acquisition proceeded with the consent of affected farmers. In the latest development, 138 farmers in Khed taluka have provided consent, amounting to Rs 271 crore over the last two days. These consenting farmers will now receive an additional 25 percent of the total amount. However, as per legal provisions, compulsory land acquisition will be implemented for those farmers who did not grant consent within the stipulated time frame.

The significance of the Ring Road lies in its potential to alleviate traffic congestion in rural areas, including Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad. The ongoing land acquisition, crucial for the project’s progression, is at an advanced stage. The first phase focuses on acquiring land in 37 villages of Bhor, Maval, Mulshi, and Haveli for the Western Ring Road. Simultaneously, the second phase involves land acquisition in Maval (11 villages), Khed (12 villages), Haveli (15 villages), Purandar (5 villages), and 3 villages in Bhor taluka for the East Ring Road.

The process has been underway for three and a half months in Khed taluka, witnessing two deadline extensions due to farmer protests advocating for a fair price hike. The successful agitation resulted in increased rates for the farmers. The extended deadline until January 31 aimed to secure consent letters. In the final two days, a surge of affected farmers enthusiastically submitted their consent forms, prompting the extension of office hours until three o’clock in the morning on the last day.

Ring Road Overview:

– Land Acquisition in 12 Villages of Khed Taluka
– Total Account Holders: 6,633
– Allocated Amount: Rs 1,736 Crores
– Rs 400 Crores Allocated Thus Far
– Rs 271 Crores Obtained in the Last Two Days through Consents
– Remaining Land Acquisition to Be Compulsory

The Ring Road project is a transformative initiative expected to enhance connectivity and ease traffic congestion in the Pune district, and the current phase of land acquisition is a crucial step towards its realization.