Third Mumbai land grab faces revolt from 124 Raigad villages

Villagers from 124 villages across Raigad district are protesting the Maharashtra government's Third Mumbai project, a 323 sq km satellite city planned across Uran, Panvel and Pen tehsils. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority issued its first notification in October 2024, appointing the New Town Development Authority as the planning authority. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the project at Davos this year, pitching it as a potential hub on the scale of Dubai or Singapore, and the cabinet approved a land acquisition and distribution policy in July 2026.

Landowners say the government's compensation of Rs 1 lakh per guntha, based on the ready-reckoner rate, is a fraction of the market value, which ranges from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per guntha. Villagers gathered outside the Commissioner's office on Independence Day to protest, and 25,000 objections have been filed against the acquisition. Sudhakar Patil, the villagers' committee chief, said the government has ignored all objections. Atul Mhatre, an architect from Raigad, said villagers want to be treated as partners, not contributors. The next step is the government's response to the pending objections.