The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has taken a significant step forward in its ambitious Harnandipuram township project by initiating a comprehensive satellite survey of the earmarked land. According to officials, the physical work on the ground for the first phase of this major urban expansion is expected to commence within the next five months.
Land Acquisition Details for Phase One
In the initial phase, the township will be developed over a vast area of 336 hectares. A major portion of this land, amounting to 292 hectares, will be acquired from three specific villages in the region: Mathurapur, Shamsher, and Nangla Feroze Mohan Nagar.
The breakdown of the land to be acquired is as follows:
- 14 hectares from Mathurapur village.
- 86 hectares from Shamsher village.
- 192 hectares from Nangla Feroze Mohan Nagar village.
GDA Vice Chairperson Nand Kishore Kalal provided an update on the land bank preparation, stating, "For the land bank, we have got registries executed for 35 hectares of land, while we have received consent from farmers for another 85 hectares. In addition to that, we have LMC land, which will be assimilated. The land bank thus created will be good enough for the launch of the first phase of the township."
GDA's Digital Push for Transparent Farmer Engagement
Recognizing past challenges and farmer apprehensions regarding land acquisition, the GDA has adopted a proactive and transparent digital approach. The authority has set up a dedicated link on its official website to serve as a direct interface with stakeholders, particularly farmers, to resolve any issues related to the process.
Kalal emphasized this initiative, noting, "There is a lot of misinformation among farmers over land acquisition. They understandably have apprehensions, and to bridge the gap between GDA and farmers, we have created a separate link on the GDA website where farmers can interact with development authority officials." He assured that the GDA is committed to addressing and alleviating these concerns.
This online portal is designed to simplify the consent process. "The link on the GDA's website will also enable farmers to give their online consent, which will save them from the rigour of visiting the GDA office for the same," Kalal added. Furthermore, he stated that GDA officials are prepared to visit farmers personally if necessary to clear any misunderstandings.
Project Framework and Funding
The Harnandipuram township is being developed under the CM Urban Expansion New City Promotion Scheme. The project has already received substantial financial backing from the state government, with an allocated budget of Rs 400 crore earmarked for its development. This funding underscores the project's priority in the state's urban planning and infrastructure agenda.
The commencement of the satellite survey marks the transition from planning to active execution for this large-scale residential and urban development project, which aims to decongest Ghaziabad and provide modern living infrastructure.
