The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a land allocation scheme aimed at rehabilitating farmers affected by the development of the upcoming Noida International Airport in Jewar.
The initiative, linked to a new township project under the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA), seeks to prioritise those whose livelihoods were disrupted by land acquisition for the airport and related infrastructure. The new township, envisioned as a future-ready urban space along the Yamuna Expressway, will feature both residential and non-residential developments. A total of 276 residential plots, each measuring 200 square metres, are being allocated in Sector 18 (Pocket 9B). Of these, 48 plots—equivalent to 17.5 percent—have been earmarked for farmers who lost land to the airport project and other YEIDA-linked acquisitions. Officials said the move aims to restore not only physical assets but also a sense of security and continuity for affected families.
This development comes as the Jewar airport, led by Swiss-based developer Zurich Airport International, moves closer to operational status. With the completion of test flights and runway trials, the airport is slated to become a major gateway in north India, initially handling up to 12 million passengers annually. Future phases will elevate its capacity to 30 million passengers by 2030, with plans for up to five runways across over 3,400 hectares. The township plan represents a crucial step in ensuring that infrastructure-led development does not leave behind communities that bore the cost of progress. According to officials, the land allotment scheme has received formal clearance from the Uttar Pradesh Real Estate Regulatory Authority (UP RERA), and the application window for interested parties is open until May 21.
The scheme also reserves 5 percent of plots for applicants running functional industrial units, while the remaining 214 plots—around 77.5 percent—will be made available to the general public. Each plot is priced at ₹35,000 per square metre, with a lease tenure of 90 years. Registration fees have been set at ₹3.5 lakh for SC/ST applicants and ₹7 lakh for those in the general category. Financial facilitation will be provided by ICICI Bank and the State Bank of India, which have been appointed as official banking partners for the initiative. Beyond physical compensation, the state government has positioned the project as a stepping stone toward integrated development. An official noted that the land distribution is part of a broader push to ensure displaced families are not just rehabilitated but also empowered through access to new opportunities in housing, employment, and business. This aligns with the government’s larger vision of transforming the Greater Noida-Jewar region into one of India’s most dynamic urban corridors within the next decade.
Last year, the state also raised the compensation rate for land acquired for the airport by nearly 40 percent, taking it from ₹3,100 per square metre to ₹4,300 per square metre. Experts noted that such revisions, combined with measures like land redistribution, could set a precedent for how large-scale public infrastructure projects negotiate the complex terrain of social equity and economic ambition. YEIDA’s township planning has focused on sustainable and resilient infrastructure. The new layout is expected to integrate green spaces, energy-efficient building norms, water conservation systems, and mobility networks that support low-carbon commuting. By promoting mixed-use development and limiting urban sprawl, officials aim to reduce the area’s ecological footprint while meeting its fast-growing demand for real estate.
Yet the path forward is not without scrutiny. Urban development analysts have underscored the need for transparency in plot allotments and clarity in post-resettlement support mechanisms. Several experts suggest that merely reserving land is not enough—support must extend to legal handholding, employment linkage, and skills training to ensure that the affected families can transition meaningfully into the new township ecosystem. Despite these concerns, the project has generated optimism among stakeholders, with many describing it as a rare instance of urban planning that places affected communities at its core. The model being tested in Greater Noida could well inform similar projects across the country, where land acquisition remains a contentious and often disruptive process.
With the construction of the Jewar airport entering its final stretch, and the surrounding areas undergoing a rapid transformation, the township scheme stands as a timely intervention. It has the potential not only to offer displaced farmers a fresh start but also to pave the way for a more inclusive model of urban expansion—one that treats equity as essential infrastructure, not just a policy afterthought.
UP farmers to be resettled in planned township
