GHAZIABAD: On October 24, the UP Housing and Development Board approved the layout plan for the Ajantapuram township in Sikandarpur, located approximately 1.5 km from Hindon Civil Terminal. This decision ends a 28-year stalemate caused by opposition from cooperative societies. With the approval secured, development work is anticipated to commence soon, with a completion timeline of around five years, according to officials.
“The clearance of the layout plan clears the path for the development of the township, which has been stalled for nearly three decades,” stated H Ram, executive engineer of the board.
According to officials, the primary cause of the delay was disputes related to land compensation. Twelve cooperative societies linked to the proposed housing project had voiced objections, as around 75 hectares of the land belonged to them. The UP Housing Board was required to return 80% of the developed land to these societies.
Four societies were later disqualified because they acquired land from farmers within 18 months of the township’s notification. This led to legal challenges and a prolonged court battle, resulting in multiple revisions of the layout plan.
The project also encountered pushback from farmers seeking higher compensation. Combined, these issues significantly postponed the township’s approval.
Spanning 274 hectares, the project will encompass residential, group housing, institutional, and commercial areas. “It aims to provide housing options for approximately 4,000 individuals in a locality that has become one of the most prominent regions near the Hindon terminal,” added Ram.
Out of the total 274 hectares, 135 were acquired under Section 32 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894, while the remaining 139 hectares were obtained under Section 28 of the same act. Section 28 allows the housing board to delineate the scheme boundaries and specify which lands are to be acquired, and Section 32 ensures fair compensation for landowners who cannot legally sell their land, ensuring funds are reinvested or used for their benefit.
The board has so far taken possession of 114 hectares and has disbursed Rs 89 crore to landowners, with the ADM (land acquisition) facilitating the process.
Officials shared that the board is now directing efforts toward the township’s external development, with tenders for related works expected to be issued shortly. “The tendering process will commence soon,” stated Ram.
