The Maharashtra government has granted permanent land ownership rights to Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha Metro).
This decision, finalised in a cabinet meeting in April 2025, transfers over 2.1 lakh square metres of land—previously leased—to Maha Metro, facilitating faster execution of metro projects in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Nagpur. The land allocation includes 20 plots from Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), 8 from Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), 8 from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and 12 from Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT). Pune Metro receives the largest share at 1,43,916 square metres, followed by Nagpur Metro with 46,841 square metres and Pimpri-Chinchwad Metro with 19,998 square metres.
This strategic move aims to streamline infrastructure work and remove bureaucratic hurdles, ensuring the timely completion of metro connectivity projects. The permanent land ownership enables Maha Metro to undertake long-term planning and infrastructure expansion, aligning with the ‘work-to-home’ or ‘walk-to-work’ concept near metro stations. This approach ensures that residential and employment hubs are strategically placed, reducing commute time and costs for citizens. To maintain financial sustainability, Maha Metro plans to develop commercial ventures on these plots, including shopping complexes, office spaces, hotels, educational institutions, and other infrastructure developments near metro stations. These ventures are essential for generating non-fare revenue, as fare revenue from passengers covers only 50% of the total metro expenses. The remaining costs must be recovered through such commercial projects.
Maha Metro had secured loans from international banks for the initial phases of the Nagpur and Pune metro projects and remains responsible for loan repayments, maintenance, and day-to-day operational costs. The revenue generated from commercial projects on these plots will play a crucial role in meeting these financial obligations. The decision also benefits municipal corporations in Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, and Nagpur. With the metro driving density in these areas, property taxes and other municipal revenues are expected to rise, while land management responsibilities for these plots will shift away from local authorities.
This land transfer represents a forward-looking development strategy, transforming metro station zones into integrated hubs for commuting, residence, workspaces, and essential services. The ‘transit-oriented development’ (TOD) model, already successful in Nagpur, is now set to be implemented in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad, promoting sustainable urban growth and enhancing the quality of life for residents.
Also Read: Pune Nagpur Metro Expansion Boosted by Land Rights Transfer
