Maharashtra Launches Digital Land Bank and Mahabhoomi Stack for Infrastructure Projects
Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has formally launched 'Maharashtra Land Bank' and 'Mahabhoomi Stack', two digital systems designed to expedite infrastructure projects and enhance accessibility and transparency of revenue and forest department services.
The Maharashtra Land Bank has identified 33,056 hectares of degraded forest land and 7,546 hectares of non-forest land available with the Revenue Department for compensatory afforestation. These lands have been mapped and made accessible through a digital portal, allowing project authorities to identify suitable alternative land without lengthy searches. Bawankule stated the initiative would accelerate major infrastructure projects including highways, railways, bullet train corridors and power transmission lines.
Under existing regulations, forest land diversion for development requires equivalent non-forest land or twice the degraded forest area for compensatory afforestation. The digital availability of land is expected to facilitate faster online clearances and reduce project delays caused by land-related procedures.
