How land pooling solves acquisition woes
Land pooling is gaining traction across Indian states as an alternative to conventional land acquisition, which has become increasingly slow, contested, and financially burdensome - particularly after the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 introduced mandatory rehabilitation and resettlement provisions. These structural and procedural limitations have created a growing gap between planned urban infrastructure and actual delivery, with projects frequently stalled due to inability to mobilise land at scale.
Rajasthan recently announced its first land pooling scheme, joining states like Gujarat and Maharashtra that have already found some success with the model. While optimism is high, broader outcomes will depend on localised innovation and institutional flexibility across different state contexts.
