NOIDA: The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has launched a crackdown on illegal colonisers promoting fraudulent projects in proximity to the Noida International Airport. The authority received numerous complaints regarding unapproved “township projects” being aggressively marketed to buyers from Delhi-NCR, falsely promising homes near the upcoming airport.
The authority now aims to take action against social media accounts promoting these illegal developments. YEIDA has pledged strict enforcement and collaboration with local administration to address these issues.
A report from TOI on September 15 highlighted how sales agents provided car pickups for potential buyers, transporting them to well-maintained “show plots” that featured boundary walls and landscaped hedges, enticing them with the prospect of owning property merely “half an hour from the airport.” Buyers, particularly from Delhi-NCR, were drawn in by deceptive “airport townships,” complete with free cab rides, glossy maps, and token booking schemes starting at Rs 11,000.
Prospective buyers were lured by promises of plots costing Rs 15,000 to Rs 18,000 per square yard with convenient payment plans. Sales representatives made specific assurances, such as constructing a boundary wall after a payment and completing legal documentation (registry and mutation) after another. In truth, it was a scam; the land showcased was either marked by the government under YEIDA’s Master Plan or classified as agricultural land, where residential construction is prohibited.
Officials have noted that these activities have surged over the past three years, driven by announcements of projects such as the airport, Film City, Logistics Park, and Heritage City. Many unsuspecting buyers were attracted by lower prices compared to Noida and Greater Noida.
YEIDA CEO RK Singh warned the public against falling for this scheme, stating, “We will build robust cases against illegal colonisers. Any project not sanctioned or approved by YEIDA in the notified area is unlawful. FIRs will be filed against identified developers. We are also contemplating a message to the state government to establish a special investigation team (SIT) to crack down on the mafia operating from Jewar to Agra.”
On September 16, YEIDA reclaimed 155 acres of land valued at approximately Rs 2,500 crore in Bulandshahr, a day after TOI’s article. Illegal colonies, including those by Aeronest Coloniser (Jhajhar), Shri Radha Gauri Enclave (Kakod), and Rudra Properties (Kakod), were demolished. This drive will extend into Khair tehsil in Aligarh, Mathura, Bulandshahr, and surrounding regions.
On Tuesday, Singh directed all four deputy collectors to conduct raids and take stringent action against these scams, especially prevalent near Jewar. On weekends, touts entice visitors and transport them to sites in Aligarh and Bulandshahr, where these township projects, appearing credible with partially built roads and promotional brochures, are completely illegal due to the absence of RERA registration and YEIDA approval.
In the past three years, YEIDA has executed over 25 major anti-encroachment operations, reclaiming land worth roughly Rs 5,000 crore. This year alone, considerable land in Aligarh and Bulandshahr has been freed, with FIRs filed against numerous developers. Notices have been sent to over 300 suspected colonisers in Aligarh, Mathura, Jewar, and Jahangirpur.
However, the authority acknowledges that enforcement remains challenging, with only two police officers available instead of a sanctioned 17. To enhance oversight, YEIDA has recruited a retired DSP and a former Army officer.
