Pune HCMTR Project Moves Ahead, Rs 2,634 Crore Compensation Estimated
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 16th September 2026: The proposed High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) project, planned as a long-term measure to address traffic congestion in Pune, is expected to require around Rs 2,634 crore for land acquisition, according to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
The project will require approximately 4,98,390 square metres of land across various parts of the city. The PMC Standing Committee has approved the land acquisition proposal, Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale said.
The move follows directions issued at a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister on July 27 to expedite the implementation of the HCMTR and Inner Ring Road projects. Subsequently, a meeting chaired by the PMC Commissioner and District Collector was held at the District Collector’s office on August 28. During the meeting, the civic administration was directed to submit land acquisition proposals to the Collector’s office by August 31.
Accordingly, the PMC has submitted its proposals for land acquisition for the HCMTR project to the District Collector.
Land will have to be acquired in Bopodi, Aundh, Bhamburda (Shivajinagar), Erandwane, Kothrud, Hingne, Parvati, Manjri, Wanwadi, Hadapsar, Mundhwa, Vadgaonsheri, Lohgaon, Yerawada and Dhanori. The estimated compensation for the land required for the project is around Rs 2,634 crore.
Under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, 30 per cent of the compensation amount is required to be deposited before the issuance of the Section 19 notification. However, the District Collector has directed that the entire compensation amount be deposited at the time of the final award instead of requiring the 30 per cent amount to be deposited in advance.
As a result, the PMC will not have to immediately deposit 30 per cent of the estimated compensation amount to initiate the land acquisition process. However, a substantial financial provision will be required at the stage of the final award.
According to the minutes of the meeting chaired by the Chief Minister, the concerned agencies have been directed to undertake land acquisition within their respective jurisdictions and bear the associated expenditure. Accordingly, the PMC will have to bear the land acquisition cost for the HCMTR project within its jurisdiction.
The proposed land acquisition process will be carried out under the 2013 land acquisition law and Section 126 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966.
The concerned department has recommended that approval of the General Body be obtained through the Standing Committee before the land acquisition proposal is forwarded to the state government. This approval is proposed before proceeding with the next stage of the acquisition process.
With the estimated land acquisition cost standing at Rs 2,634 crore, the PMC faces a significant financial commitment for the HCMTR project even before construction work begins.
