Pune ₹653 Crore TDR Scam Probe Ordered in Slum Redevelopment Project
In a decisive administrative move, Maharashtra’s leadership has ordered a full-fledged inquiry into an alleged ₹653-crore Transferable Development Rights (TDR) scam linked to the Janata Vasahat slum redevelopment project in Pune’s Parvati area. The probe aims to uncover irregularities in valuation and allocation processes that have raised serious concerns over transparency and governance in urban land development.
The order to initiate a detailed investigation was issued after senior state officials reviewed reports suggesting a massive mismatch in the valuation of land parcels earmarked for rehabilitation. The redevelopment, part of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s (SRA) 2022 guidelines, involved compensating landowners through TDR a policy mechanism that allows developers to construct additional floor space elsewhere in exchange for surrendering land for public or social use.
However, the Urban Development Department’s scrutiny revealed that while the SRA had pegged the land’s value at ₹763 crore, its actual worth was closer to ₹110 crore. The ₹653-crore differential has now triggered an audit into the approval and valuation methodology used in the proposal. Officials from the Housing Department have been directed to halt all activities related to the project until a transparent review is completed.
The land in question spread across roughly 48 acres in Parvati comprises three major plots that currently house nearly 3,000 informal settlements. Under the redevelopment framework, residents were to be shifted to permanent housing units, a move aligned with the state’s inclusive urban housing vision. Yet, experts argue that inflated land valuations and TDR manipulation not only undermine public trust but also dilute the objective of equitable urban regeneration.Senior urban planning experts have emphasised that unchecked TDR practices can distort the city’s sustainable development framework. “The TDR mechanism was created to balance growth and affordability, not to become an instrument for speculative profit. Such discrepancies, if proven, could set a dangerous precedent for future redevelopment projects,” an official from the state’s urban development body remarked.
The ongoing investigation reflects a larger push by the government to strengthen accountability within city-level planning and real estate mechanisms. Pune, one of Maharashtra’s fastest-growing urban centres, has witnessed rapid land value appreciation making vigilance in TDR and SRA projects critical to preventing misuse of public schemes.As the probe progresses, all eyes are on how the findings will reshape Pune’s redevelopment policy landscape. The outcome could set a benchmark for transparency in Maharashtra’s urban renewal projects, reinforcing the state’s commitment to sustainable, equitable, and corruption-free city development.
