Maharashtra gives compensation through RTGS

Farmers who gave land for hi-tech project get quick relief

In a first, money is being transferred through real-time gross settlement (RTGS) to farmers whose land is being acquired for an ambitious high-tech road project that would connect Mumbai to Nagpur. The Nagpur-Mumbai Super Communication Expressway (NMSCE) or the Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg (MSM) is showing the way for future infrastructure projects.

The project is the brainchild of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Over the last couple of days, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has begun the process of land acquisition in Thane and Nagpur districts and money was transferred to the bank accounts through RTGS.

Ram Sahu of Hingne tehsil on Thursday became the first person to give his land — 1.25 hectares — for which he got a compensation of Rs 59.11 lakh. At Shahpur in Thane district on Saturday, the MSRDC acquired 1.97 hectares for Rs 1.84 crore.

“This is a better way of land acquisition. I am happy that the money came directly in my account after signing the documents and once the RTGS was done I gave away the documents,” said Ganesh Pandurang Raut, a farmer who received nearly Rs 32 lakh as compensation.

With these two formal events, the process to acquire land through direct purchase scheme has also commenced. Immediately after signing the documents, the compensation amount to each of these landholders is being transferred to their bank accounts through RTGS mode of payment. Minister for Public Works (Public Undertakings) Eknath Shinde, who is also the guardian minister of Thane, presided over the land acquisition process.

“Apart from these landholders, the state government has received consent from 323 people who have agreed to give away their land for NMSCE. The process of registering the sale deeds and giving away compensation is on,” he said.