The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (Yeida) has tabled a proposal to establish a 5‑kilometre buffer zone on either side of the Yamuna Expressway, where unplanned construction will be prohibited. The draft proposal, to be discussed and potentially approved at the board meeting scheduled for 18 June, also offers a forward-looking provision: landowners outside this buffer would be allowed to develop agri-based enterprises, potentially fostering local economic activity while safeguarding the expressway corridor.
Officials explained that the buffer aims to protect a stretch of planned infrastructure from clutter and encroachment, ensuring efficient use of land for industrial, logistical or transit-oriented development. Under the draft plan, farmers beyond this zone may pursue ventures such as petrol stations, hotels, roadside eateries, rural tourism facilities or agri-industrial units, provided these comply with environmental and town-planning norms. Quoting regulatory context, Yeida officials emphasised that under the Uttar Pradesh Industrial Act–1976, industrial bodies can only permit business activity on land officially allotted for non-agricultural use. The proposed blanket allowance for commercial use outside the buffer represents a progressive shift in policy that would empower rural landowners to generate additional income without surrendering their ancestral plots.
A senior planning officer told our correspondent that this nuanced approach addresses two key priorities: conserving the integrity of the expressway corridor while equipping farmers with livelihood options. The policy could unlock agri-entrepreneurship and boost livelihoods in villages across Mathura, Agra, Aligarh and Hathras districts, all part of Yeida’s 250,000-hectare planning area extending from Greater Noida to Agra. Farmer representatives have applauded the move. One rural community leader remarked that after losing land to development projects, farmers often faced uncertain futures. “If we are allowed to set up businesses such as roadside eateries or farm-stays, it would sustain our families and retain economic activity locally,” the leader said. “This plan gives us a chance to participate in development without losing everything.” The proposal also reflects cell‑level sensitivity to rural aspirations while advancing the government’s voices for equitable urbanisation. By allowing controlled commercial development outside the buffer, Yeida signals an understanding that rural populations shouldn’t be collateral victims of corridor-focused infrastructure.
Green planning advisers at Yeida have moreover highlighted the environmental benefits of a clear buffer zone. Restricting sprawl adjacent to the expressway minimises habitat disruption, manages pollution, reduces visual clutter, and protects water courses—an approach aligned with Net Zero objectives and sustainable land use mandates. Experts from urban ecology backgrounds also welcomed the initiative, noting that buffer zones often double as eco-corridors, supporting native biodiversity—and when planned correctly, can include measures like tree plantations, sustainable drainage systems or pedestrian paths. These features not only soften the concrete corridor but enhance climate resilience. Still, concerns remain. Development lobbyists have urged clarity on regulations: what businesses would be allowed, what size of structures, and whether auxiliary infrastructure like parking, sewage. They warn that without robust guidelines, the buffer could simply shift unregulated activity further out, undermining organised planning. Officials insist that a draft regulatory framework will accompany the board proposal in June. It will map the extent of land-use rights, environmental safeguards, size limits and process guidelines for compliance, ensuring that permitted rural enterprises stay legal, planned and sustainable.
Critically, the urban-rural transition zone envisaged by Yeida connects to wider socio-economic ambitions—namely developing equitable city models that include rural transformation, not marginalisation. This is especially important given that Yeida’s jurisdiction encompasses diverse communities along the Yamuna, where industrial expansion risked sidelining farmers. Regional planners have noted that integrating agri-business into a transit-oriented model complements the expressway’s logistics corridor goals. Local owners standing to benefit include roadside potters, local food suppliers, and eco-tourism ventures—all part of a broader push to embed inclusive livelihoods within modern infrastructure. The proposal also reflects broader urban development trends across India: governments seeking to balance infrastructure investment with livelihood security, rural empowerment and eco-conscious city building. While the buffer protects critical corridors, the commercial rights act as incentives to align rural outcomes with wider growth.
As the region braces for heightened investment and greenfield development, the way Yeida navigates the fine print—what uses are allowed, how planning is regulated and environmental compliance assured—will directly affect whether the buffer fulfils its dual aims: corridor protection and rural prosperity.
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