Nagpur Airport Expansion Clears Land in Shivangaon Village

As the handover of Nagpur Airport to GMR progresses, the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has initiated a drive to clear land in Shivangaon village for the planned airport expansion. The project, expected to be completed within a month, includes constructing a second runway that will pass through the village. Many residents were relocated to Chinchbhuvan in 2016-17, with land compensation provided for this purpose. While some villagers moved, others remained, with some renting out their homes or allowing relatives to stay in Shivangaon. Currently, a 13-hectare section of land in Shivangaon remains to be cleared of structures. MADC has begun demolishing identified homes, marked with a cross on the walls. As part of a land swap agreement, MADC will transfer about 288 hectares to the Indian Air Force (IAF), which will vacate land near the airport for expansion and the development of new facilities. MADC officials confirmed that the relocated residents were offered alternative land ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet, with additional space for families with newly-married sons. Even encroachers were provided with land, and some received cash compensation. However, some locals have expressed dissatisfaction with the compensation, claiming it was insufficient to rebuild their homes. “The package we received wasn’t enough to rebuild,” said Nakul Ambhore, a Shivangaon resident. Many homes in the village are now empty, with only a few villagers remaining. “We’ve asked for a week to find a rented home. My brother was allotted land but couldn’t build a house,” shared Trishala Fulzele, a local resident in her late fifties. (ET)