The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has recovered around 10 hectares of land in Kanawni, Indirapuram, valued at approximately Rs 800 crore. The land, part of the Indirapuram Extension scheme, had been encroached upon with illegal hutments and shanties for over a decade. Officials confirmed that the reclaimed land is being secured with fencing and boundary pillars.
The Indirapuram Extension project, originally launched in 2004, involves about 92 hectares in Mahiuddinpur Kanawani village. Farmers whose land was acquired were paid Rs 1,100 per square metre at the time. However, in 2005, 225 farmers with ownership claims on 35 hectares obtained a stay order from the Allahabad High Court, demanding enhanced compensation. This stalled the GDA from taking possession of the disputed land.
The situation was complicated further by the enactment of the Land Acquisition Act in 2014, which mandated four times the market rate as compensation to landowners. Due to financial feasibility concerns, GDA sought de-notification of the 35-hectare parcel in 2019.
In May 2022, GDA gained legal backing from a Supreme Court order related to a similar case involving the Ayodhya Development Authority. The apex court ruled that compensation claims initiated before the 2014 Act should be governed by earlier rates. This decision cleared the way for GDA to proceed with its project using the pre-2014 compensation rates.
GDA has now initiated the process to prepare a detailed project report and issue a request for proposal for development. According to officials, of the total 34 hectares in the current plan, about 15,800 square metres will be reserved for residential purposes, while 1,500 square metres will be earmarked for commercial use.
GDA’s anti-encroachment drive last week cleared the occupied land in Kanawni. Authorities said fencing work has started to prevent further encroachments. The agency intends to integrate the recovered land into its existing township development plan.
The Indirapuram Extension scheme had been in limbo for nearly two decades due to the legal dispute and subsequent policy changes. GDA’s reclamation drive is seen as a crucial step towards reviving the stalled township project, which aims to provide new residential and commercial spaces in Ghaziabad’s growing urban landscape.
Officials also noted that GDA will coordinate with other government departments to ensure necessary infrastructure such as roads, sewerage, and power supply before launching allotment of plots. The authority plans to finalise the detailed project report over the next few months.
