Cash crunch: HUDA drops plan to acquire 1,290 acres for open spaces in Gurgaon

The lack of financial resources have started to hit HUDA’s plan to build infrastructure in new Gurgaon sectors (76-115) particularly along Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway

The lack of financial resources have started to hit HUDA’s plan to build infrastructure in new Gurgaon sectors (76-115) particularly along Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway.

A major fallout of the cash crunch being faced by the urban authority is that it has finally dropped the plan to acquire around 1,290 acres of land earmarked to develop open areas and green spaces such as large public parks and a stadium(Parveen Kumar/HT File Photo)

A major fallout of the cash crunch being faced by the urban authority is that it has finally dropped the plan to acquire around 1,290 acres of land earmarked to develop open areas and green spaces such as large public parks and a stadium, under the Gurgaon Manesar Urban complex Master Plan 2031.

The catch, however, is that due to the zoning plan of these sectors the land can’t be used for any other purpose except agriculture. This also implies that instead of green parks, lakes, green strips and stadium, the residents will only see more farming and other activities.

Kulbir Singh Dhaka, Land Acquisition Officer (LAO), HUDA said that the plan to acquire this land was dropped due to steep costs. The authority now plans to use policies such as land pooling and transfer of development rights to collaborate with farmers. “We had to drop the plan as it would cost more than Rs 6,000 crore to acquire this land under the new rules. However, this area will remain an open space because the zoning has not been changed,” said Dhaka.

HUDA’s decision to not acquire this land will have a huge impact on thousands of apartment buyers who are expected to move into Sector 76 to 115 in the next 2 to 3 years. It is also expected to hit real estate sector in the area as developers were banking on public infrastructure to boost the market. Almost 40,000 units are in various stages of construction in these sectors, and several residential projects have been delivered to the buyers. The decision is expected come as another setback for the area where growth has been hampered due to the non-operational Northern Peripheral Road (NPR).

The 1,290 acres of land was to be acquired primarily along Dwarka Expressway, and the notification for acquisition was issued in 2013. With HUDA opting not to announce the award for acquisition even after three years, the entire process was allowed to turn fruitless.

The land was to be bought in 13 villages that include Shikohpur (240 acre), Dhanwapur (85 acre), Dhankot (132 acre), Mewka (50 acre), Kherki Daula (115 acre), Naurangpur (88 acre), Navada Fatehpur (23 acre), Kherki Mazra Dhankot (22 acre) , Dhorka (181 acre) , Bhangrola (88 acre), Kankrola ( 228 acre), Wazirpur (24 acre), Hayatpur (68 acre).