NOIDA: The Uttar Pradesh government has established a high-level committee to devise a strategy for the effective utilization of land designated for industrial and urban development under the jurisdictions of Noida, Greater Noida, and the Yamuna Expressway Authority.
This decision comes after a presentation by the state’s industrial promotion agency, Invest UP, which highlighted significant discrepancies between land that has been notified, those included in master plans, and what has actually been acquired for development.
According to the findings, over four lakh hectares have been earmarked for industrial and urban growth in the area. However, only 1.5 lakh hectares are incorporated in master plans, with merely 40,000 hectares acquired. The remaining 2.5 lakh hectares are inaccessible for development, as construction projects in these areas cannot be sanctioned.
“This situation leaves significant portions of notified land underutilized, deterring potential investors,” remarked Chief Secretary SP Goyal in the directive establishing the committee. He cautioned that if the current pace continues, the process of acquiring the entire notified area could extend “over several years,” with risks of land remaining undeveloped.
Currently, the Noida Authority covers 20,316 hectares, and with New Noida’s addition, the total increases to 20,911 hectares under the 2041 master plan. Greater Noida covers 31,592 hectares, with an additional 39,733 hectares included in its phase-2 master plan. The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) boasts the largest notified area, nearly 2.7 lakh hectares, though only 24,700 hectares are urbanizable under its 2031 plan.
Officials acknowledged that without refining the acquisition process, much of the land would remain locked, constraining industrial allotments and hindering job creation.
Additionally, the ‘Invest UP’ presentation pointed out that numerous properties, previously legally sanctioned by local entities before notification, now necessitate owners to acquire no-objection certificates (NOCs) from development authorities for reconstruction or new approvals.
This requirement has been described as “impractical and burdensome,” inflicting “unnecessary hardship,” according to Goyal.
In response to these challenges, the state has formed a six-member committee led by the Additional Chief Secretary (Planning). The committee comprises the Additional Chief Secretary (Housing and Urban Planning), the CEOs of Invest UP and the Yamuna Expressway Authority, the Chief Town and Country Planner, and a senior officer from the justice department. The CEO of Invest UP will serve as the panel’s secretary.
The committee will examine successful practices from industrial development authorities in other states, conduct an in-depth analysis of the land notified, included in master plans, and acquired by the three authorities, and submit its recommendations within 15 days. The aim is to outline a roadmap to expedite land acquisition, streamline approvals, and unlock parcels for industrial use.
Officials emphasized that this initiative is part of the state’s broader Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy, 2022, which aims to provide incentives across more than 30 sectors. “Ensuring sufficient land for industries remains our highest priority,” Goyal asserted.
