Airport brings many takers for YXP industry plots, but few taking next step

Time of India

6 hours ago

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Noida:
Yamuna Expressway
may have been the place no investor would want to miss as Noida International Airport began getting built in Jewar, but for all the bullish sentiment in the air, there's little to show on the ground.
Despite the promise brought by the airport – which incidentally has missed its launch deadline and does not look like taking off before year-end, at least – industrialisation along Yamuna Expressway has largely remained on paper even though hundreds of plots have been allotted to domestic and foreign companies. Govt sees the Yamuna Expressway region (YXP) as a major investment hub, one of its headline projects being the proposed HCL-Foxconn semiconductor unit.
Only a handful of units like Vivo, Avery Dennison, Surya Global Flexi Films and Bikanervala have completed construction and begun production. A few others have begun construction but vast stretches of the planned industrial zones, as of now, remain barren.
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With a new CEO at the helm now, Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) is trying to inject urgency into the process even as caution seems to be the watch word among early investors.
CEO RK Singh has directed officials to seek construction plans from more than 1,200 companies that have executed lease deeds for industrial units and have got possession of land but are yet to start work. "It is not about confrontation but about dialogue," Singh said, adding his focus is to understand what is holding companies back and to address issues through improved infrastructure, so the planned projects materialise.
Singh recently reviewed the Medical Devices Park in Sector 28, where infrastructure is ready, but only six companies have begun construction despite 89 plots being allotted and 46 lease deeds executed. Similarly, special focus will be given to the Electronics Manufacturing Cluster in Sector 10 and dedicated parks for toys, apparel, IT, data centres and semiconductors.
YEIDA has allotted 3,041 industrial plots so far, issued lease plans to 2,297 allottees, signed lease deeds with 1,836, and handed over possession to 1,235.
Over the past two years, more than 1,600 registries were executed — compared to just 30–35 annually before 2022 — spurred by the airport project.
In Sector 29's Apparel Park, 81 plots have been allotted to date, 65 checklists issued, and lease deeds executed for 63. Of these, 47 allottees have taken possession. While construction is under way at 18 sites, officials noted that 14 maps have been approved, eight applications are pending and 15 are in process.
In Sector 33's Toy Park, 139 plots have been allotted with over 74 registries completed. But most plots remain undeveloped.
According to YEIDA, the registry process — slow until 2022 — has gained pace. However, industrial associations argue the sluggishness stems from land disputes with farmers, poor road connectivity, and gaps in infrastructure like power, sewer, and water supply. Rishabh Nigam, president of Yamuna Expressway Entrepreneurs Association, said, "Over 800 industrial plots were allotted in 2013, but even today, about 30% of the land is not under the authority's possession.
The authority only started issuing checklists in 2022, nine years after allotment. The fault lies with the authority, not with entrepreneurs."
So, while flagship projects like Vivo's 169-acre plant in Sector 24A have started production and brought belief about the potential of the region, broader industrialisation needs more groundwork. Singh stressed that the authority's focus will be on ensuring timely construction, job creation, and turning the Yamuna Expressway region into a vibrant industrial corridor.
Fresh notices, the CEO added, will soon be issued urging companies to complete pending registries and start construction, with the aim of bringing momentum to the area.
YEIDA norms stipulate a timeframe for initiating construction after the sublease, generally allowing four years for companies to complete construction and obtain functional certificates. With things picking up pace in recent months, officials said industrialisation should become visible in the next couple of years.
HCL-Foxconn will set up a semiconductor unit on 48 acres in Sector 28, while TI Medical — a Murugappa Group-Premji Invest joint venture — has taken 11 acres in Medical Devices Park. Minda Corporation, in partnership with Korea's Daesung and India's Loconav, has secured 22 acres in Sector 24 for auto component manufacturing. Fuji Silvertech Concrete, an Indo-Japanese joint venture, will build a precast concrete unit in Sector 32, the first allotment under Uttar Pradesh's new FDI policy.
Escorts and Kubota are also set to receive land for a major tractor manufacturing plant on 200 acres in Sector 10.