Punjab has cleared the way for one of Mohali’s biggest stalled projects to move again. The state government has decided in principle to route the long-pending compensation for the Aerotropolis project through the Reference Court, allowing the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) to finally take possession of land in Pockets A, B, C and D and restart development that had been frozen for roughly three years. For anyone tracking property near the Mohali international airport, this is a meaningful unlock.
Key points
- GMADA can now take possession of Aerotropolis Pockets A-D and resume frozen infrastructure work.
- Pending and disputed compensation will be deposited by the Land Acquisition Collector before the competent Reference Court, so development no longer waits on every individual dispute.
- Compensation for structures and orchards not under investigation is to be released directly to genuine landowners.
- The project had stalled for about three years following a compensation scam involving inflated orchard claims.
What did the Punjab government actually decide?
The core decision is procedural but powerful: instead of holding up the entire township until every compensation dispute is settled, the Land Acquisition Collector will deposit the pending and disputed amounts before the competent Reference Court. Once that money is deposited, GMADA can legally secure possession of the acquired land and push ahead with roads, services and other infrastructure. In short, the project stops waiting on litigation and starts building.
Crucially, landowners whose structures and orchards are not part of the vigilance investigation are set to receive their compensation directly. That separates honest claimants from the disputed cases and lets genuine farmers be paid without further delay.
Why was the Aerotropolis project frozen?
The Aerotropolis is GMADA’s flagship airport-linked township, planned as a major urban and commercial growth engine next to the Mohali international airport. Development effectively froze for around three years after a compensation scam in which orchard and structure values on acquired land were allegedly inflated. Administrative curbs on payments and the resulting court proceedings put the whole acquisition on hold. The new Reference Court route is the mechanism the government is using to break that deadlock.
What does this mean for Mohali and Tricity property?
A restarted Aerotropolis is a strong medium-term signal for the wider corridor. Renewed infrastructure work near the airport tends to lift confidence and demand across adjoining Mohali sectors, Aerocity and the Zirakpur belt that feeds into them. Buyers who have been watching plotted and residential options in this pocket now have a clearer reason to expect momentum rather than continued stagnation.
If you are evaluating this corridor, browse current property in Mohali and nearby Zirakpur projects we represent. As always, we recommend verifying any project’s approvals before committing, and we are happy to walk you through current availability and pricing.
The bottom line
This is an enabling decision, not a finished road. The real test will be how quickly possession and on-ground work follow. But after three years of standstill, clearing the compensation logjam is exactly the kind of catalyst the Mohali airport corridor needed. We will keep tracking it and update buyers as development resumes.
Source & further reading: this summary is based on reporting by The Tribune (Chandigarh, 23 June 2026). Figures and the project status reflect that report. Dewan Realtors is not affiliated with GMADA or the Government of Punjab; this update is shared for informational purposes.
