State unlocks agri land along highways for malls and motels : The Times of India

Mumbai:



The Maharashtra government has amended land laws to unlock agricultural land for “integrated wayside amenities“ including motels, restaurants, malls, ATMs and public toilets along state and national highways.

The notification comes shortly after the state government hiked building rights on agricultural land for industry as well as public medical and educational institutes. The changes are part of the state's push to promote ease of business under its Make in Maharashtra policy.

Under the changed rules, the wayside amenities will be allowed to exploit five times the existing building rights on agricultural land. The amenities will be permitted on agricultural land with a minimum area of 10,000 square metre along national and state highways.

However, the floor space index will be capped at a maximum of 0.5, essentially allowing a ground+one storey structure. The additional building rights will be provided on the payment of a premium worth 30% of the land rate. The government says the decision will promote tourism. “It will encourage better facilities or travellers and encourage private participation in such projects,“ said urban development secretary Nitin Kareer.

However, critics accuse the state of batting for private players at the cost of farmers.“This will result in unplanned development. Land will be diverted from farmers for private commercial gain,“ said D Stalin from environment group Vanashakti.

The amenities which will be allowed additional building rights include public toilets, motels, restaurants, highways malls and hypermarkets as well as bank ATMs, petrol pumps and parking lots. Also, auto-service centres, medical stores, sales offices and canteens for on-site employees.

The additional building rights will also apply to amenities including police chowkies, highway ambulances or freight bridges. But these will have to be cleared by the local pl anning authority or collector.The new rules will apply to areas including MMR (Mumbai metropolitan region), Pune, Nagpur, Sangli, Kolhapur, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad, Ratnagiri, Raigad, Jalgaon, Amravati and Chandrapur.