NOIDA: The district administration has begun the process of securing farmers’ consent for the third and fourth phases of land acquisition for Noida International Airport.
With 15,691 landowners involved, about 37% have given their consent so far. As per the Land Acquisition Act, approval from at least 70% of the affected farmers is required to proceed with the acquisition process.
A total of 2,053 hectares of land is to be acquired in these phases, of which 1,889 hectares belong to private farmers, while the rest consists of govt-owned land. This acquisition spans 14 villages, affecting thousands of families. Some of these villages — including Thora, Neemka Shahjahanpur, Kwajpur, Ramner, Kishorpur, Banwaribans, Parohi and Mukimpur Shivara — collectively hold vast tracts of land and are central to the airport’s expansion.
Thora, the largest among the affected villages, has 583 hectares of land marked for acquisition and 3,511 affected families. So far, only about 15% of the families have given their consent.
Neemka Shahjahanpur, with 301 hectares and 1,726 families, has seen even lower participation, with just 8% of landowners agreeing to part with their land so far. The situation in Kwajpur, which covers 272 hectares and has 1,826 affected families, is also challenging, as just over 12% of farmers have given their consent.
Ramner, with 213 hectares and 2,215 families, has performed better, with over 30% of landowners agreeing to the acquisition. Kishorpur, which spans 95 hectares and affects 2,084 families, is showing better progress, with over 48% of landowners giving their consent.
Banwaribans, Parohi and Mukimpur Shivara are also among the significant landholding villages where negotiations are ongoing, and officials are working to increase consent levels.
Several smaller villages, including Rohi, Bankapur and Dyantapur, have relatively less land and fewer affected families. While resistance varies across these villages, the administration is engaging with them through multiple channels to ensure smooth proceedings. To facilitate the consent process, a contact officer has been appointed for each village and dedicated teams are working on the ground to communicate with landowners.
In most villages, landowners are unwilling to part with their land outright. Many farmers insist on better rehabilitation packages, including increased compensation and alternative land arrangements, before agreeing to the acquisition. The primary points of contention include demands for 20% residential plots in exchange for land, higher compensation and the option of agricultural land instead of residential plots.
Notably, the state govt recently increased the compensation rates. The compensation was raised to Rs 4,300 per square metre, up from Rs 3,100 per square metre, which was offered during the second phase of land acquisition. The first phase of the Noida Airport project, which involved the acquisition of 1,334 hectares, is already underway, with a validation flight conducted recently. Commercial operations are slated to begin by April this year.
