GHAZIABAD: The UP government has set firm timelines for the transfer of large private townships to municipal corporations, ending uncertainty for residents who have been paying both civic taxes and high private maintenance fees.
The newly released standard operating procedure (SOP) mandates that townships built under the hi-tech and integrated UP township policy be handed over to municipalities within a specified timeframe after they become eligible.
This initiative is crucial because once the townships are transferred, the responsibility for maintaining roads, streetlights, water lines, drainage, sewers, parks, and open areas falls to civic authorities, clarifying years of confusion regarding maintenance.
Previously, the process often extended over years as developers and municipalities argued over who should cover the costs of incomplete civic work.
In a directive dated June 24, Principal Secretary (Housing and Urban Planning) P Guru Prasad outlined the framework for the transfer process.
“According to the SOP, townships up to 200 hectares must be transferred within 30 days, those between 200 and 500 hectares within 45 days, and projects larger than 500 hectares within 60 days,” stated a GDA official.
The SOP also requires joint inspections by municipal bodies prior to the handover. If the civic infrastructure is incomplete, the developer is obligated to deposit the necessary funds with the municipal corporation within 90 days, with the transfer finalized within 30 days of payment.
In the event of disputes, the divisional commissioner will serve as the final authority with the power to make binding decisions.
In Ghaziabad, notable private townships such as Crossings Republik, Wave City, and RNE are still awaiting transfer despite thousands of families residing there for years.
Residents have reported double financial burdens due to ongoing collection of house tax by the GMC, irrespective of township transfers, while developers continue to impose hefty maintenance fees. “We end up paying twice,” says Sanjay Jha, a resident of Crossings Republik.
Jha noted that the SOP addresses only part of the issue. “The handover process cannot start until the development authority issues a completion certificate (CC). In Crossings Republik, only a few societies have received CCs, despite possession beginning 17 years ago,” he added.
A GDA official attributed delays in CC issuance to outstanding layout concerns and unfulfilled obligations regarding LIG and EWS housing.
Crossings Infrastructure Private Limited CEO Sumit Agarwal remarked that the township is still under construction, and without completion, they cannot apply for a CC.
Officials indicated that while the new SOP could expedite future handovers, persistent completion issues might leave numerous townships in administrative limbo.
