Mohali/New Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab has taken a major step toward reshaping the urban landscape around Mohali and New Chandigarh by initiating the acquisition of more than 5,100 acres under the country’s standard land acquisition law. The decision follows the state’s withdrawal of its controversial land pooling policy earlier this year.
Officials confirmed that a notification has been issued for acquiring 4,059 acres in Mohali under Section 11 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. Another 1,048 acres—part of an earlier acquisition plan for New Chandigarh—will soon move to the award stage, with compensation details nearing completion.
Aerotropolis Expansion Gets Major Boost
A substantial portion of the newly targeted land—around 3,535 acres—will feed the next phase of the Aerotropolis expansion near the international airport. This includes the development of Blocks E to J, expected to extend the high-value aviation-linked urban zone. Additionally, approximately 524 acres have been marked for new commercial, industrial and mixed-use sectors, notably Sectors 87, 101 and 103.
Authorities say the Social Impact Assessment, which evaluates the repercussions of large-scale land acquisition, has been completed and reviewed by the designated expert panel, clearing a key procedural hurdle.
Progress in New Chandigarh
In New Chandigarh, the government has nearly concluded the process for 1,048 acres already under acquisition, with awards for 720 acres now ready. This follows months of scrutiny after earlier assurances that compensation decisions would soon be finalised.
Shift Away from Land Pooling
The return to the 2013 acquisition law marks a full retreat from the state’s land pooling model that promised developed plots to farmers instead of cash compensation. The scheme had triggered widespread protests, with farmers arguing that the policy left them vulnerable. Political parties also raised concerns, prompting the Punjab and Haryana High Court to impose an interim stay before the government ultimately shelved the policy in August.
One of the State’s Largest Land Drives
With 5,107 acres now in the pipeline, this is among Punjab’s biggest coordinated land acquisition efforts in recent years. The move is expected to give momentum to planned city-building projects around the Tricity region, anchoring them in legally established compensation norms and predictable development schedules.
Officials say the step is crucial for managing the region’s rapid expansion and ensuring that Mohali and New Chandigarh continue to evolve as structured, well-serviced urban extensions of Chandigarh.
