Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor: 30 hectares in Dahanu transferred to clear forest hurdle
Synopsis
Maharashtra has unlocked the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor's biggest regulatory bottleneck — transferring 30 hectares of Dahanu government land to the Forest Department for compensatory afforestation. Without this handover, the 80-km Navghar-to-Chirner highway could not have secured central forest clearance. The project now moves meaningfully closer to construction on its forest-zone sections.
Key Takeaways
30 hectares of government land in Chandigaon, Dahanu taluka, Palghar transferred to the Forest Department for compensatory afforestation on 3 July .
The parcel is drawn from a 252.95-hectare land bank and leased to MSRDC at ₹1 per square metre under the Occupant Class-II category.
The Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor covers an 80-km highway stretch from Navghar (Vasai, Palghar) to Chirner (Uran, Raigad) .
MSRDC must complete physical handover to the Forest Department within three months ; land reverts to the state if the project stops.
The corridor has been classified an 'urgent public utility project' by the Maharashtra government, directed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis .
The land transfer clears the path for central forest clearance — the next critical approval before construction on forest-zone sections can begin.
Maharashtra's Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor, a flagship infrastructure project under the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC), has cleared a critical regulatory bottleneck after the state revenue department approved the transfer of 30 hectares of government land in Chandigaon, Dahanu taluka, Palghar district, to the Forest Department for compensatory afforestation. The decision, fast-tracked on 3 July, removes the primary forest clearance hurdle blocking the project's progress.
What the Land Transfer Involves
The 30-hectare parcel has been carved out of a larger 252.95-hectare government land bank in Chandigaon. It will be handed over to MSRDC under the 'Occupant Class-II' category at a nominal lease rate of just ₹1 per square metre. The land will then be transferred to the Forest Department to satisfy the compensatory afforestation requirement mandated under central forest clearance norms.
The state government has officially designated the multimodal corridor an 'urgent public utility project', enabling the revenue department to expedite approvals that would otherwise take considerably longer under standard procedures.
Why This Clearance Was Needed
The current phase of the corridor involves developing an 80-kilometre highway stretch between Navghar (Vasai, Palghar) and Chirner (Uran, Raigad). Because the proposed alignment passes through existing forest zones, MSRDC was legally required to provide alternative land to the Forest Department before the Centre could grant formal forest clearance, according to Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
The approval follows a detailed feasibility report submitted earlier this year by the Konkan Divisional Commissioner and the Palghar District Collector. The move was directed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and executed by Minister Bawankule.
Strict Compliance Conditions Attached
The land allotment comes with binding conditions. MSRDC must physically hand over the 30-hectare plot to the Forest Department within three months. The land must be used solely for its designated public purpose. Should the project stall or be abandoned, the land reverts to the state government without any financial compensation, Minister Bawankule stated.
MSRDC is also barred from transferring, leasing, or mortgaging the land to any third party without explicit government permission. The Forest Department will bear full legal and operational responsibility for preventing future encroachments on the parcel.
What the Corridor Will Deliver
Once operational, the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor is intended to establish a seamless direct link between Palghar and Raigad districts, bypassing congested inner-city roads. Planners project a significant reduction in travel times between the two districts and expect the corridor to substantially ease pressure on the broader Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) road network.
With the compensatory afforestation land now formally in place, MSRDC can proceed with its application for central forest clearance — the next key milestone before construction on the forest-aligned sections can begin.
Point of View
But the real test lies ahead: central forest clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment is a separate and often protracted process, and a 30-hectare compensatory parcel is only the entry ticket. Maharashtra's track record on large corridor projects — including earlier phases of the same MMR expansion — shows that regulatory clearances and actual construction timelines can diverge sharply. The three-month physical handover deadline attached to this allotment is a useful accountability lever, but it applies only to the land transfer, not to the broader project schedule. With the MMR's congestion worsening each year, the pressure on MSRDC to convert approvals into earthwork is mounting — and this clearance, while welcome, is one step in a still-long chain.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor?
The Virar-Alibaug Multimodal Corridor is an 80-kilometre highway project being developed by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) between Navghar in Vasai, Palghar and Chirner in Uran, Raigad. It is designed to provide a direct link between Palghar and Raigad districts, bypassing congested inner-city roads and easing pressure on the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
Why was the Dahanu land transfer necessary for the corridor?
The corridor's alignment passes through existing forest zones, legally requiring MSRDC to provide alternative land for compensatory afforestation before the Centre can grant forest clearance. The 30-hectare transfer in Chandigaon, Dahanu fulfils this precondition under central forest clearance norms.
What are the conditions attached to the land allotment?
MSRDC must hand over the 30-hectare plot to the Forest Department within three months. The land must be used only for its designated public purpose, cannot be transferred or mortgaged to any third party without government permission, and reverts to the state without compensation if the project stalls.
Who approved the land transfer and on whose directive?
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule fast-tracked the approval following directives from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The decision was based on a feasibility report submitted by the Konkan Divisional Commissioner and the Palghar District Collector earlier this year.
What happens next for the Virar-Alibaug Corridor?
With the compensatory afforestation land in place, MSRDC can now formally apply for central forest clearance from the Union government — the next key regulatory milestone. Once that clearance is granted, construction on the forest-zone sections of the 80-km highway can begin.
