Maharashtra Approves Policy To Unlock Underutilised Government Land For Urban Development

In a significant step to boost urban infrastructure and revenue, the Maharashtra State Cabinet, led by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has approved a policy to allocate small, underutilised government land parcels for development.

Targeting Land-Locked and Construction-Unfit Plots

The policy focuses on narrow, vacant, or land-locked plots that are often ignored due to size or construction challenges. These parcels, once considered unusable, will now be opened for productive urban development.

Direct Allocation and Auction-Based Allotment

Under the proposal by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, individual applicants can obtain land directly under tenure rights. If multiple applications are received for the same parcel, a transparent auction process will be initiated to allocate it to the highest bidder.

Annual Rent and Occupancy Fee Guidelines Finalised

To ensure fair usage and state benefit, the cabinet has approved guidelines for setting annual ground rent or occupancy fees, streamlining revenue collection and land valuation practices.

Boost to Planned Urban Growth and State Revenue

By unlocking dormant land for development, the state aims to increase housing and infrastructure supply, support adjacent landowners and developers, and enhance planned urban expansion.