YEIDA Takes Major Action: 155-Acre Illegal Colonies Demolished Near Noida International Airport

Noida: In one of its most significant actions against illegal colonies, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) has freed nearly 155 acres of land valued at Rs 2,500 crore in Bulandshahr. The demolition drive comes a day after a Times of India report highlighted how land sharks are luring unsuspecting homebuyers to invest in projects marketed as 'prime airport plots' in Khair tehsil of Aligarh.

On Tuesday, a team led by OSD Shailendra Kumar Singh razed illegal colonies, including Aeronest Coloniser (Jhajhar), Shri Radha Gauri Enclave (Kakod), and Rudra Properties (Kakod), in Jhajhar and Kakod villages. Singh stated that FIRs are being lodged against land mafias, and the drive will be extended to Khair tehsil of Aligarh, Mathura, Bulandshahr, and areas adjoining Jewar.

YEIDA's jurisdiction spans six districts: Gautam Budh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Hathras, Aligarh, Mathura, and Agra. With rapid development projects such as the Noida International Airport, Film City, Logistic Park, and Heritage City, land prices have surged dramatically, making the region a prime target for land grabbing and unauthorized real estate activity.

The menace is not hidden from YEIDA. Last week, YEIDA freed 27 acres of land worth Rs 226 crore in Jewar Bangar and Mewla Gopalgarh villages, filing FIRs against builders for illegal plotting and unauthorized construction. In May, the Authority, with support from the Aligarh administration, freed 67 acres of land worth over Rs 407 crore from three villages—Tappal, Sirsedhi, and Helupur—where illegal colonies were marketed under names like Airport City, Cherry Buildcon, Zammen Expert, Aerocity Project, and MRJK Township. FIRs were registered against 57 people during the drive.

Last year, YEIDA issued notices to over 300 illegal colonizers in Gautam Budh Nagar, Aligarh, Mathura, and Bulandshahr. Over the past three years until Tuesday, YEIDA has conducted 25 large-scale anti-encroachment drives, reclaiming land worth nearly Rs 2,500 crore.

'Our message is clear: No one can sell or purchase notified land. Buyers should verify land records with YEIDA before making any investment,' YEIDA CEO Rakesh Kumar Singh said. A senior YEIDA official emphasized the need for public awareness. 'People are lured by the dream of owning property near the airport. But they must remember, if it is not allotted or approved by YEIDA, it is illegal—no matter how real it looks on the ground. Do not fall for weekend site visits and free cab rides. Verify before you buy,' he added.