Land Acquisition
Eco City-3 Land Acquisition in New Chandigarh
GMADA’s award for Eco City-3 set village-specific compensation rates for land in nine villages in New Chandigarh. As of October 2026, the main award has been announced, while an official GMADA agenda also records a proposal to acquire 21 additional acres for missing khasra numbers.
| Authority | Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) |
|---|---|
| Awarded land | 713.375 acres in the Punjab government notification; press reporting described the award as covering about 716 acres. |
| Award date | 24 December 2025 |
| Villages | Nine villages in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district |
| Reported compensation range | ₹4.27 crore to ₹6.46 crore per acre, depending on village |
| Acquisition basis | Compulsory acquisition under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, with a land-pooling option for landowners |
Acquisition model and award
Punjab’s acquisition notification identifies 713.375 acres for the Eco City-3 residential scheme across nine villages in Kharar tehsil, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. GMADA’s authority agenda records that the compensation award was announced on 24 December 2025. The statutory acquisition proceeded under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013; this was not solely a voluntary consent-based purchase.
Landowners were also offered a land-pooling option. Reporting on the award described an entitlement per acquired acre of 1,000 square yards of residential space plus 200 square yards of commercial space, or 1,600 square yards of residential space if commercial space was not chosen. The cash award and pooling option are distinct routes for eligible landowners.
Villages and reported compensation rates
All nine villages are in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district. The village-wise acreage and compensation rates below were reported after the award. Rates are per acre; acreage figures are the reported quantities acquired under the award.
| Village | Reported land | Compensation rate |
|---|---|---|
| Kansala | 169 acres | ₹5.46 crore per acre |
| Kartarpur | 93.6 acres | ₹5.43 crore per acre |
| Rajgarh | 42.1 acres | ₹4.27 crore per acre |
| Takipur | 317.3 acres | ₹4.99 crore per acre |
| Hoshiarpur | 59 acres | ₹4.98 crore per acre |
| Rasulpur | 2.06 acres | ₹5.91 crore per acre |
| Dhodemajra | 0.3 acre | ₹6.40 crore per acre |
| Majra | 6 acres | ₹4.27 crore per acre |
| Salamatpur | 6.7 acres | ₹6.46 crore per acre |
GMADA’s 41st Authority Meeting agenda gives the original award area as 713.375 acres, while contemporaneous press reports round the acquired area to about 716 acres. The area figures are therefore reported in their respective source terms rather than treated as identical.
Additional land and current stage
GMADA’s 41st Authority Meeting agenda says some khasra numbers within the scheme boundary were left out of the main acquisition. It proposes acquiring a further 21 acres across Rasulpur, Takipur, Rajgarh, Majra, Kartarpur, Kansala and Hoshiarpur. The agenda presents this as a proposal for authority approval, not as an additional completed acquisition.
As of October 2026, the main award has been announced and the acquisition process has moved into compensation and land-pooling administration. GMADA’s public-notice listings in October 2026 include an extension concerning land-pooling option forms for Eco City-III Low/High Project. These steps do not by themselves establish that the additional 21 acres have been acquired or that the township is completed and operational.
Budget and farmer issues
The award reporting provides village-level compensation rates, but the sources reviewed do not provide a reliable project-specific budget allocation. No budget figure is included here.
Earlier reporting records that GMADA promoted land pooling as an alternative to cash compensation and that farmers and GMADA had not reached agreement on plot clubbing under the scheme at that time. The December 2025 award subsequently provided landowners with a reported choice between cash compensation and pooling entitlements. Reports of wider farmer actions over Punjab’s land-pooling policy concern a broader policy dispute and do not, on their own, establish a project-specific protest or negotiated settlement for Eco City-3.
Frequently asked questions
How many villages are covered by the Eco City-3 award?
Nine villages, all in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district: Kansala, Kartarpur, Rajgarh, Takipur, Hoshiarpur, Rasulpur, Dhodemajra, Majra and Salamatpur.
What compensation rates were reported?
Rates ranged from ₹4.27 crore to ₹6.46 crore per acre, varying by village. The village-wise rates are listed in the table above.
Was the land acquired by consent or compulsory award?
The main acquisition proceeded under the RFCTLARR Act, 2013, and GMADA announced an award on 24 December 2025. Land pooling was offered as an option for eligible landowners, rather than replacing the statutory acquisition process.
Is the additional 21 acres already acquired?
GMADA’s 41st Authority Meeting agenda describes 21 acres as additional land proposed for acquisition to address missing khasra numbers. The agenda does not establish that this additional acquisition was completed.
Is there a published acquisition budget?
The reviewed award and official records identify the land area, award date and village-wise rates, but do not provide a project-specific budget allocation.
Is Eco City-3 operational?
The records reviewed establish acquisition and ongoing land-pooling administration, not completion or operation of the township. As of October 2026, the project should be distinguished from its announced acquisition and planning steps.
Sources
- Punjab government notification: Eco City-3 land acquisition, dated 13 May 2025
- GMADA 41st Authority Meeting agenda: missing khasra numbers in Eco-City-3
- Eco City-3 project: GMADA acquires 716 acres from 9 villages
- GMADA public notice regarding Eco City-3 acquisition and related projects
- GMADA public notice listing Eco City-III land-pooling deadline extension, October 2026