Pimpri Chinchwad TDR Controversy: ₹58 Crore Land Deal Turns Into ₹213 Crore Windfall in 10 Months
The Pimpri Chinchwad TDR controversy centres on a ₹58 crore land purchase that reportedly generated ₹213 crore in development rights after a ready reckoner revision. Alleged ministerial intervention and valuation changes have sparked political debate and calls for independent investigation.
The Pimpri Chinchwad TDR controversy has ignited political and administrative tremors across Maharashtra after a land transaction worth ₹58 crore reportedly generated compensation of ₹213 crore within just 304 days.
At the centre of the storm is a Transfer of Development Rights allocation linked to land reserved for a sewage treatment plant in Charholi village under the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.
The scale of financial escalation, combined with alleged ministerial intervention, has triggered questions about regulatory oversight, ready reckoner manipulation, and whether the process adhered to planning and revenue laws.
Sprouts News Special Investigation Team has examined official correspondence, meeting records, and valuation changes to understand how a routine reservation dispute transformed into a ₹155 crore gain.
How Ready Reckoner Revision Reshaped the Pimpri Chinchwad TDR Calculation
The landowner had reportedly agreed in 2008 to accept compensation in TDR form instead of cash acquisition under prevailing land acquisition norms after reservation was imposed on the plot.
However, subsequent administrative actions appear to have altered the valuation basis. The ready reckoner rate for Survey No. 33 in Charholi became the pivot of the financial jump.
On June 25, 2025, a meeting chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule was convened in Mantralaya to review the matter. Revenue officials and municipal authorities were present during discussions.
Following the meeting, directions were reportedly issued to revise the ready reckoner rate applicable to the land parcel. Earlier valued at ₹673 per square foot, the rate was later increased to ₹1,210 per square foot.
The Inspector General of Registration office initially sought government approval before implementing the revision. Internal correspondence indicated hesitation without a formal Government Resolution.
On August 18, 2025, the revised rate was finalised. Official notes referenced compliance with ministerial instructions, suggesting the valuation change was not purely administrative discretion.
This revision dramatically altered the TDR calculation. At ₹673 per square foot, the compensation would have translated to roughly ₹59 crore after applying the 1.5 TDR multiplier.
Under the revised ₹1,210 rate, the same land generated approximately ₹213 crore in development rights, creating a differential of nearly ₹155 crore within ten months.
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Political Presence, Administrative Questions and Urban Development Oversight
The controversy deepened after reports surfaced that a local BJP corporator attended the ministerial review meeting as a representative of applicants, despite not being the recorded landowner.
The corporator later stated he attended as an authorised representative. However, critics argue such participation raises conflict of interest concerns in high value municipal decisions.
Importantly, the decision to enhance ready reckoner rates typically involves technical valuation processes under the Registration and Stamps Department, rather than political direction.
Urban planning experts point out that TDR allocations within municipal limits generally fall under the Urban Development Department’s broader policy framework.
In this case, questions are being raised about why the Revenue Department took a central role instead of routing the matter through urban planning authorities.
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation TDR Committee eventually granted over 11.74 lakh square feet of development rights to the concerned company, citing revised valuation guidelines.
However, internal communication from the committee reportedly emphasised that the revised rates were applied as per revenue department directions, suggesting institutional caution.
Financial analysis indicates the company purchased the land in January for ₹58 crore. By September, through TDR entitlement, it secured development rights valued at ₹213 crore.
Urban policy analysts warn that inflated TDR allocation can accelerate unplanned vertical growth, placing additional burden on civic infrastructure such as roads, drainage, and water supply.
The broader concern extends beyond a single transaction. Maharashtra’s urban expansion model heavily relies on TDR as a planning tool, making valuation transparency critical.
Legal experts note that while the process may appear compliant on paper, the sequence of administrative escalation and valuation revision demands independent scrutiny.
Opposition leaders have called for a high level inquiry, arguing that ministerial directions influencing valuation processes could undermine institutional autonomy.
As of now, no formal judicial probe has been announced. The Revenue Minister has not issued a detailed public clarification addressing the valuation controversy.
The Pimpri Chinchwad TDR controversy underscores a larger governance challenge: balancing land acquisition fairness with fiscal prudence and urban planning discipline.
If irregularities are established, it could reshape how ready reckoner revisions and TDR multipliers are monitored across Maharashtra’s rapidly urbanising corridors.
For policymakers, the episode serves as a reminder that valuation frameworks must remain insulated from political influence to preserve public trust in land administration systems.
Whether this case proves to be an isolated anomaly or part of a deeper structural issue may depend on the transparency of forthcoming official investigations.
Unmesh Gujarathi, Investigative Journalist and Editor in Chief of Sprouts News, remains committed to exposing corruption and financial irregularities in public systems. “Truth may face resistance, but it always finds its voice.” If you are aware of similar scams or frauds, contact us confidentially at 9322755098.
