Noida Authority Lifts Ban on Sports City Projects, Clearing Path for Revival
In a significant development, the Noida Authority board has approved a revised layout for the Lotus Greens Sports City project, effectively lifting a blanket ban imposed on all four Sports City projects in 2021. This decision, taken on Monday, marks a crucial step towards reviving these stalled real estate ventures, which collectively encompass approximately 32,000 flats.
Supreme Court Directive Drives Decision
The move comes in compliance with a Supreme Court directive issued in November 2025, which ended a prolonged freeze that had blocked map approvals, building plan revalidations, and occupancy certificates for the Sports City projects. The freeze was initially imposed after a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) audit highlighted irregularities in the allotment, execution, and implementation of these projects.
Background of the Sports City Scheme
The Sports City scheme was envisioned as a marquee township spanning nearly 800 acres across four locations in Noida. It was designed to include extensive sports infrastructure, such as golf courses, an international cricket stadium, and multi-sport arenas. Under the scheme, developers were permitted to monetize 30% of the land to fund the development of sports facilities on the remaining 70%.
Allotments were made to four lead developers: Xanadu Estate (sectors 78, 79, 101), Lotus Greens and Logix Infra (Sector 150), and ATS Homes (Sector 152). However, over the years, progress was stalled due to delays, disputes, financial stress, and violations of approved layouts, primarily the failure to build the promised sports amenities.
Legal Proceedings and Revival Framework
In February 2025, the Allahabad High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe alleged irregularities in three Sports Cities—those of Xanadu Estate, Lotus Greens, and Logix Infra—and instructed Noida Authority to recover dues. Following this, Lotus Greens approached the Supreme Court and received interim protection.
The developer subsequently submitted a revival framework for its 12 lakh square meter project across 21 plots in Sector 150. The framework proposed paying 20% of its dues within two months of the revised master plan’s approval, with the remainder to be paid in six half-yearly instalments over three years. According to Noida Authority, Lotus Greens and its consortium partners owe Rs 4,177 crore, of which about Rs 100 crore has been deposited recently.
The Supreme Court approved this framework in November last year and directed Noida Authority to lift the ban within 30 to 45 days, a directive the board implemented earlier this week.
Immediate and Broader Impacts
The immediate beneficiaries of this decision are around 8,000 homebuyers already residing in Lotus Greens’ Sector 150 project, whose property registrations had been stuck. Additionally, construction of over 12,000 pending units in the same project can now restart.
However, the significance of Monday’s order extends beyond Lotus Greens, as it also clears the path for other developers to submit revised plans to Noida Authority and get maps cleared. Together, these projects account for approximately 4,000 ready flats in Logix, 8,000 in Xanadu, and an under-construction project by ATS. The four developers collectively owe the Authority over Rs 11,000 crore.
Next Steps for Developers
Noida Authority officer on special duty Ashok Kumar Sharma stated that while the ban has been lifted, Xanadu, Logix, and ATS must now submit their own revised layouts. “These developers need to submit revised layouts, after which the Authority will take further steps,” he said.
Logix Infra mentioned it is yet to receive the minutes of the board meeting and will comment after reviewing the details, while ATS Homes officials did not comment on the issue. Attempts to reach Xanadu for a comment were unsuccessful.
Industry Reaction
Dinesh Gupta, president of Credai West UP, hailed the resolution as a significant step. “Thousands of buyers have spent years paying rent while their purchased homes sat incomplete or unregistered. The SC order and the Authority’s approval have now lifted the first block in the Lotus Green Sports City project and cleared 20,000 flats in the Sports City area,” he said.
This development is expected to bring relief to numerous homebuyers and inject new life into the real estate sector in Noida, addressing long-standing issues of stalled projects and financial dues.
