In a significant push for urban expansion in the National Capital Region, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) to fast-track the land acquisition process for the ambitious Harnandipuram township project. During a high-level review conducted on the sidelines of the Namo Bharat corridor inauguration, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for efficiency in establishing what is set to be a major new residential hub.
The Harnandipuram township is being developed under the state’s "CM Urban Expansion New City Promotion Scheme," a strategic initiative designed to alleviate housing pressures through planned urban centers. To back this vision, the state government has already allocated ₹400 crore in dedicated funds to kickstart development.
Progress on the ground is already gaining momentum. GDA officials informed the Chief Minister that more than 35 hectares of land have already been registered through the "mutual agreed rate" clause. Furthermore, the authority has successfully secured formal consent from farmers for an additional 85 hectares. This growing land bank, which will also incorporate Land Management Committee (LMC) land, is now deemed sufficient by officials to launch the first phase of the township.
A major hurdle for the project was the current designation of the land; approximately 80% of the target area is currently classified for agricultural use. To bypass the usual bureaucratic bottlenecks, the state government has granted the GDA Board sweeping new powers to change land use internally. This policy shift eliminates the need for the authority to seek state-level permission for every conversion, a move intended to drastically reduce the project timeline.
"The Chief Minister inquired about the progress being made in land acquisition and directed us to expedite the remaining registries," a GDA official stated. The first phase of the project focuses on acquiring 336 hectares across three key villages: Mathurapur, Shamsher, and Nangla Feroze Mohan Nagar.
With the financial backing of the state and new administrative autonomy, the GDA is now moving toward the finalization of the land bank. Once the acquisition phase is completed, Harnandipuram is expected to provide a modern, integrated living space that aligns with the Chief Minister's broader goal of rapid, planned infrastructure growth across Uttar Pradesh.
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