The Maharashtra government has ordered a formal inquiry into the altered alignment of the Nashik Ring Road project — a key infrastructure corridor being developed ahead of the upcoming Kumbh Mela — and has promised to complete the probe within three days. The announcement was made on Thursday, 9 July, in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who also assured the House that no farmer would face forced land acquisition.

What Triggered the Inquiry

The probe was prompted by a Calling Attention motion moved in the Assembly by MLA Vijay Wadettiwar, who alleged that the Ring Road's alignment had been deliberately changed to enable large-scale land irregularities. Wadettiwar's motion accused unnamed parties of manipulating the route to benefit specific interests at the expense of farmers and the public exchequer.

Revenue Minister Bawankule confirmed that the inquiry would specifically examine whether individuals purchased land in the project area over the last three years using prior insider knowledge of the alignment, or with ulterior motives. 'If it is found that the alignment was altered deliberately to benefit specific interests, a detailed inquiry will be conducted by the Chief Secretary,' he stated on the floor of the House.

Nashik District Collector Named in Allegations

The Assembly session also saw allegations levelled against Nashik District Collector Ayush Prasad by public representatives. Bawankule announced that a separate probe into those allegations would also be conducted by the Chief Secretary.

However, the minister strongly defended an IAS officer surnamed Dutta, who was recently photographed wearing a helmet during a land measurement survey at the project site. Bawankule said that on the day of the survey, some protestors had attempted self-immolation and brought kerosene bottles, creating a severe law-and-order situation. 'The officer wore a helmet solely for self-defence and to protect against potential stone-pelting or kerosene attacks. Therefore, the officer is not at fault,' he clarified.

Government's Assurance to Farmers

Bawankule emphasised that the Nashik Ring Road is critical to managing the massive logistics of the Kumbh Mela, and that the government remains committed to carrying the project forward without coercion. 'We will take the farmers into confidence once again and hold discussions with them. They will receive fair compensation as per the Land Acquisition Act. If there is an expectation of additional assistance from the government, it will be considered positively, but there will be absolutely no coercion,' he said.

The assurance is significant given the sensitivity around land acquisition in infrastructure projects, particularly those with tight timelines tied to religious or national events. The Kumbh Mela draws tens of millions of pilgrims and places enormous pressure on the host city's road and logistics network.

Assembly Response

Local MLA Saroj Ahire, who had previously staged protests to draw attention to the issue, thanked the Assembly Speaker for permitting the matter to be debated on the floor of the House. The development signals that the controversy around the Ring Road alignment has now reached the highest levels of Maharashtra's legislative scrutiny.

With the three-day deadline now in motion, all eyes are on whether the Chief Secretary's inquiry will substantiate the allegations of insider land deals — and what action, if any, follows against those found culpable.