Latest news with #GhaziabadDevelopmentAuthority
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Don't invest here: GDA sounds caution on 351 illegal colonies
Ghaziabad: Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has identified a total of 351 colonies that have come up illegally on around 3,000 acres of land in the city. The development authority has advised people not to invest in these colonies, which officials said have mushroomed in the last 35 to 40 years, with quite a few having emerged in the last decade. In 2021, the number of illegal colonies identified in the district stood at 321, and 30 more have been identified since. A major issue with these colonies is that, due to a lack of awareness, buyers invest in properties here, and middlemen and land sharks play a big role in this. "We have made the names of these colonies public, and they are advised not to invest in properties in these colonies," said an official from the GDA, adding, "Since the registries in these colonies could be done, there is a misconception among buyers that it gives legal sanctity to it. We cannot put a blanket ban on registries in these illegal colonies because the Registration Manual does not permit it." You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida Clause 241 of the Registration Manual states, "Registering officers should bear in mind that they are in no way concerned with the validity of the documents brought to them for registration, and it would be wrong for them to refuse to register on any such ground." The official added, "At present, there are 351 illegal colonies occupying 2,944 acres of land. New Karhera colony, for instance, is spread over 250 acres on the floodplains of the Hindon River. In 2023, during the flood, Karhera was most hit as the area remained underwater for a fortnight or so." Loni is another area with a high number of illegal colonies. "In the Loni Ailyabad area, 43 illegal colonies have come up on 43 acres of land. Sikhrani has two illegal colonies in two patches—38 acres and 25 acres. Illegal colonies in Pavi Sadipur are spread over an area of 137 acres and 97 acres in Mirpur Hindu – all of these are in Loni," said the official. When asked about what action has been taken to check the growth of illegal colonies so far, the official said that GDA is carrying out demolition drives on a near daily basis under clauses 26, 27, and 28 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Ordinance 1973, despite stiff opposition from locals. "To some extent, it has helped us rein in the growth of illegal colonies, but there are many such colonies that have been thriving for the last 35 to 40 years, and it is more of a legacy problem. Cracking down on such colonies is not easy." Additionally, the development authority is working on an Artificial Intelligence-enabled Illegal Construction Detection System to check illegal construction and the growth of illegal colonies in the district.
Time of India
04-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Noida-like skyline: UP changes bylaws, gives big highrise push to other major cities
Noida: The state cabinet has approved new bylaws that will allow construction of taller buildings while ensuring sustainable development. The UP Building Construction and Development Bylaws, 2025 — which will replace 2008 regulations — will significantly relax height restrictions and plot requirements, marking a shift towards vertical growth in cities like Ghaziabad, Lucknow, and Kanpur. Noida, which is governed by an industrial authority, will not be affected by the revised laws. The changes, which will enable increased Floor Area Ratio (FAR), will particularly impact group housing projects. Previously, developers were constrained by a maximum FAR of 2.5 in new areas and 1.5 in developed ones, with ground coverage limited to 35% and density capped at 1,000 people per hectare. The minimum plot size was 2,000sqm then, and stringent setback rules discouraged the construction of taller towers. Now, the minimum plot size for group housing has been reduced to 1,000sqm in built-up areas and 1,500sqm in non-built-up areas, effectively removing barriers to vertical construction. For group housing projects along roads that are 24-45 metres wide, the maximum FAR has more than doubled to 5.25 in built-up areas and 8.75 in non-built-up areas. On roads wider than 45 metres, there are no FAR restrictions at all — unless there are airports or other critical installations around the buildings. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida To ensure these taller buildings are ready for the future, the bylaws have made it mandatory for societies to have electric vehicle infrastructure. At least 20% of parking spaces must have EV charging facilities, with adequate power supply to support simultaneous charging. The new rules will also ensure the taller buildings are financially viable, allowing developers to use 5% of the availed FAR for commercial facilities. They can either be restricted to the ground floor within residential towers or in separate buildings with independent access. An additional 5% FAR can be used for services like lift machine rooms and community centres. "The focus is clear. The UP Building Construction and Development Bylaws, 2025, will give impetus to vertical growth of cities where they are being implemented. Plot sizes have been defined under affordable housing standards," said Rajesh Kumar Singh, secretary at the Ghaziabad Development Authority. The new regulations will also promote sustainable development through green building incentives and mandatory open spaces. Plots above 3,000sqm must reserve 10% of the area for parks and open spaces if covered by a zonal development plan, or 15% if they aren't. For individual homes, the new laws will allow construction up to three storeys (15 metres) with a maximum FAR of 2.25 on smaller plots and 2.5 on larger ones. Multi-unit buildings can rise to four storeys, including a stilt floor, on plots that are at least 150sqm in size. Importantly, departments like NHAI, fire, railways or PWD must now issue no-objection certificates within a fixed timeframe, a move that will reduce project delays. If construction does not start before a permit expires, a new nod has to be taken. "Given the rapid pace of urbanisation and land increasingly becoming scarce, the new bylaws will address these by making vertical growth possible. It's a win-win for both the common man and developers," said Gaurav Gupta, general secretary of Credai-NCR. Suresh Garg, CMD of Nirala World, added, "With these changes, the state govt has not only made it legal but also financially viable to build taller buildings." It's not just group housing projects, but the hospitality sector too will benefit from the new rules. With plot sizes reduced, hotels with up to 20 rooms will no longer have a minimum requirement, while larger properties will need only 500sqm, down from the previous 1,000sqm. Following the cabinet's approval, principal secretary (housing and urban planning) P Guruprasad has asked all development authorities to adopt these new bylaws.
Hindustan Times
28-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Work begins on ‘Greater Ghaziabad' plan; Khoda, Loni, Muradnagar likely to merge
The Ghaziabad district administration has begun preparing a roadmap for the proposed 'Greater Ghaziabad' project, under which local bodies such as Khoda, Loni, and Muradnagar may be merged into the Ghaziabad municipal corporation. The move comes following directions from Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who floated the idea during a visit to the district on Thursday, officials said. According to officials, the Ghaziabad Development Authority has already included Ghaziabad, Loni, Muradnagar, and Modinagar in its integrated draft Master Plan 2031. (HT Archive) The chief minister was in Ghaziabad to inaugurate a data centre at Central Electronics Limited and to visit Kailash Mansarovar Bhawan in Indirapuram. Addressing an event, he emphasised integrated development and proposed the formation of a larger municipal entity named Greater Ghaziabad. The proposal will require both legislative approval and a cabinet nod, with the final decision resting with the state government. 'On directions of the chief minister, we have asked the officials of the district administration and the corporation to chalk out a plan, which will then be submitted to the state government,' said Deepak Meena, district magistrate of Ghaziabad. 'The final decision will be taken at the state government level and will also involve the state cabinet.' The Ghaziabad district currently comprises nine local bodies—one municipal corporation, four Nagar Palikas (Khoda, Loni, Modinagar, and Muradnagar), and four Nagar Panchayats (Patla, Dasna, Faridnagar, and Niwari). In 2023, ahead of the inauguration of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) priority section in Ghaziabad, BJP MLAs Sunil Sharma (Sahibabad) and Nandkishor Gurjar (Loni) had raised concerns about civic issues in Khoda and Loni to the chief minister. While BJP leaders support the proposed merger, some political opponents have criticised it as a reaction to electoral losses. Former MLA Amarpal Sharma, whose wife Mohini Sharma currently chairs the Khoda Nagar Palika, said, 'After the BJP lost the Khoda chairperson seat in 2023, its politicians floated the concept of merger. The corporation itself struggles to manage its jurisdiction areas, and managing Khoda and Loni would be a tough task. People in Khoda are yet to get tapped water supply and face many other civic issues like bad roads, sewerage disposal, proper drainage, etc., after repeated promises for years.' In the May 2023 civic polls, the BJP won the Ghaziabad mayoral seat but lost the chairperson elections in Loni, Khoda, and Muradnagar Nagar Palikas. The party managed to retain only the Modinagar chairperson seat. Nandkishor Gurjar, BJP MLA from Loni, dismissed allegations of political motivation. 'The local bodies proposed by the CM for merger under the corporation suffer many issues like water-logging, bad roads, drinking water shortages, sewerage problems, among others,' he said. 'Since these areas will see massive housing development in the future, it is vital that these areas also get developed like Ghaziabad city. Further, they will also be able to receive big funds for development. So, it is vital that they become part of Greater Ghaziabad.' Meanwhile, Ranjita Dhama, the chairperson of Loni Nagar Palika, did not respond to requests for comment. According to officials, the Ghaziabad Development Authority has already included Ghaziabad, Loni, Muradnagar, and Modinagar in its integrated draft Master Plan 2031.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
A decade gone, GDA frees Rs 800cr land for Indirapuram Extension project
Ghaziabad: Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) recently freed 10 hectares of its land worth Rs 800 crore in Kanawni in Indirapuram. The land parcel was encroached upon for more than 10 years, where illegal shanties and hutments came up. A GDA official said the land parcel will be clubbed with the Indirapuram Extension scheme — covering an area of 34 hectares — where the development authority is planning a new township. "Last week, GDA carried out a major anti-encroachment drive in Kanawni in Indirapuram, in which the land was reclaimed. Now the development authority has started erecting pillars and the area has been fenced to secure it," the official said. The official said GDA now plans a request for proposal for the said land parcel and a detailed project report will be made. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida The Indirapuram Extension scheme was launched in 2004, involving about 92 hectares of land in Mahiuddinpur Kanawani village, for which compensation to farmers was given at the rate of Rs 1100/sqm. In 2005, about 225 farmers who owned 35 hectares of land got a stay from Allahabad high court over enhanced compensation, as a result of which GDA was not able to take the parcel of land into its possession, and since then, the project has remained in a state of limbo. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The matter got further compounded in 2014 when the Land Acquisition Act 2014 came into force, which decreed that landowners be given compensation four times the market value. The project became financially untenable for GDA due to the new land acquisition law, so in 2019, GDA wrote to the state govt seeking to de-notify the remaining 35 hectares of land. But GDA, on 20 May 2022, received a shot in its arm in the form of a Supreme Court order involving the Ayodhya Development Authority. The case was similar with respect to GDA's Indirapuram Extension housing scheme. The court, in its May 2022 order, said that any issue pertaining to land compensation that was initiated before the Land Acquisition Act 2014 came into existence should be dealt with the land rates prevailing prior to 2014, irrespective of the fact whether the land could be acquired or not. Following the order, GDA is already developing the said piece of land. As per the plan, out of 34 hectares of land, 15,800 sqm of land has been placed under the residential head and 1,500 sqm under the commercial head.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CM opens portal for property services
Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath formally inaugurated the 'Pahal' portal of the Ghaziabad Development Authority at Kailash Mansarovar Bhavan in Indirapuram on Thursday. The portal provides digital access to over 1.40 lakh people, enabling them to pay property dues, download documents, manage instalment accounts, book registries, and change names with just a single click of a button from home. The portal has so far generated revenue of Rs 161.22 crore, with 83 cases of changes approved. A govt spokesperson said that earlier, these tasks were done manually, a process which was time-consuming and prone to errors. Now, the same facilities can be accessed by consumers from their homes, without having to visit a govt office.
