Noida plot owners on edge: 12-year deadline may cost many their land

(Representational Image)

The Noida Authority has approved a stringent new measure to cancel the allotment of residential plots that have remained vacant for over 12 years, in what officials described as one of its strictest steps yet against non-compliance by owners, reported HT.

The officials told HT that any allottee who has not built a house on their plot within the 12-year window will lose ownership rights. Those currently in the process of construction will be given a six-month grace period to complete the work and obtain a completion certificate.

The decision was taken at the authority’s 219th board meeting, chaired by Uttar Pradesh infrastructure and industrial development commissioner Deepak Kumar. The move, the report said, is meant to ensure that land earmarked for housing is actually used for that purpose and not held idle for speculative gains.

“The board has decided to cancel allotments where houses have not been built even after 12 years. Vacant plots are not only an eyesore in neighbourhoods but also a violation of rules,” said Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M.

At present, 17 residential plots have crossed the 12-year deadline without completion certificates. Of these, nine have seen no construction at all and are likely to face cancellation soon, officials said. The authority had been issuing warnings to such allottees for over a year.

The problem extends further. Out of nearly 30,000 individual plots allotted in Noida, about 1,500 have only partial construction, often a token room, toilet, kitchen, and boundary wall with utility connections, just enough to obtain a completion certificate. These plots are then resold later at higher prices when market conditions improve.

“As per building bylaws, once basic facilities are constructed, the authority issues completion certificates. Many owners exploit this loophole to treat plots as speculative investments rather than developing them into homes,” HT quoted an official as saying.

The stricter enforcement is also intended to ensure that housing land keeps pace with demand in the city. “Plots lying idle defeat the purpose of allotment, which is to meet urban housing needs,” another official explained.

Action on developers

The board also decided to discontinue interest waivers for developers who have defaulted on payments under the state government’s “stalled legacy housing projects” policy. Officials said several builders had availed concessions but still failed to clear dues.

According to the authority, 10 project promoters have not paid any land cost dues, 25 have made partial payments, and 35 have paid only the initial 25% before stalling. While registries for 3,724 apartments have been executed, another 5,758 remain stuck until payments are cleared.

The 2023 policy had allowed developers to pay 25% upfront with the balance over three years in exchange for interest waivers. Officials said the fresh crackdown signals a tougher recovery approach.

Uniform regulations and other approvals
The meeting, held at the authority’s Sector 6 headquarters, also adopted provisions of the Unified Regulations-2025, aligning policies across Noida, Greater Noida, and the Yamuna Expressway Authority. Officials said this will standardise allotment rules, payment schedules, and approvals across the three regions, making processes clearer for both developers and buyers.

The board also approved brochures for new plot allotments for colleges, senior secondary schools, and nursing schools under the unified framework.

Beyond land matters, the authority cleared several infrastructure proposals. These include an integrated solid waste management plant at Mubarakpur in Sector 145 with a capacity of 300 tonnes per day, which will generate electricity, produce fertiliser, and supply treated water.

It also sanctioned Rs 86.67 crore for retrofitting sewage treatment plants in Sectors 35, 54, 123, and 168 to recycle wastewater for park irrigation and keep drains cleaner. The authority further directed that 11 minor drains flowing into the Yamuna and Hindon rivers be cleaned and fitted with treatment systems, subject to clearance from the Central Pollution Control Board.

In other approvals, a 4,000 sq m plot in Sector 143 will be allotted for a new police station. A new mobile app will also be launched to track the progress of public projects, including road construction, park upgrades, and drain repairs, to improve transparency and execution.