NOIDA: Noida Authority has reiterated its demand to reclaim over 8.5 lakh sqm of unused land allotted to Unitech, with an estimated value of over Rs 10,000 crore, to recover dues of over Rs 11,000 crore.
At a Jan 21 meeting, headed by retired SC judge Abhay Manohar Sapre, adviser to the govt-approved Unitech board of directors, Authority officials emphasised that the amount represents public money, which must be recovered to ensure the completion of urban infrastructure and amenities that benefit residents.
The dues, which include premiums, lease rent, additional compensation, and interest, are tied to several leased land parcels where Unitech has yet to launch any projects.
The Authority had originally allotted over 18.5 lakh sqm to the Unitech Group, but nearly 8.5 lakh sqm of land remains unused to date. The vacant land spans multiple sectors, including 96, 97, 98, 113, 117, and 144.
Among these, sectors 96, 97 and 98 alone account for 7.3 lakh sqm, valued at Rs 8,886 crore, making it the largest parcel of unused land. Sector 113 has 36,000 sqm of vacant land that is valued at Rs 351 crore, based on the current rate of Rs 97,650 per sqm. Sector 117 has 35,000 sqm of vacant land worth Rs 342 crore.
Sector 144 has two plots, measuring 30,247 and 21,494 sqm, valued at Rs 568 crore at the market rate of Rs 1.09 lakh per sqm.
On April 26 last year, the Supreme Court instructed Noida Authority not to insist on recovering its dues from the developer for the time being. The court divided the total leased land into two categories: the first where homebuyers had been allotted flats or plots, and the second comprised land where no projects had been launched. The court stressed the need for the Noida Authority to grant all necessary approvals and sanctions for projects in the first category to facilitate the realisation of funds from existing homebuyers and unsold inventory. The SC directed that all approvals for the first category of land be granted by May 31, 2024. Following this order, the Noida Authority approved layout plans for 6.6 lakh sqm of land in sectors 96, 97 and 98, leaving 7.3 lakh sqm unapproved. In Sector 113, approvals were granted for 1.1 lakh sqm, while 36,000 sqm remained in the second segment. In Sector 117, approvals were issued for 2.3 lakh sqm, with 35,000 sqm still vacant.On Dec 4, 2024, the court issued another directive, instructing Noida Authority to approve the entire 14.1 lakh sqm of Express City project in Sectors 96, 97 and 98, including the second segment.
The court’s order required the Authority to grant these approvals within two weeks, as per the revised layout plan submitted by Unitech. However, the Authority has not fully complied with this order, citing unresolved disputes and dues.
On Dec 18, 2024, the court directed Justice Sapre to facilitate a joint meeting between Unitech and Noida Authority to address the pending issues. In the first meeting, held on Jan 8, several matters were taken up, but the key disputes remained unresolved. Unitech raised concerns over the shortfall in land possession in Sector 117 and ownership disputes in Sector 113. These were taken up again for discussion on Jan 21, but Noida Authority reiterated its focus on recovering the pending dues from Unitech and expressed its reservations about granting approvals for the second segment of vacant land.
The next hearing in this case will take place on Feb 6.
Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M said, “Recovering the dues is essential for our financial stability, as these funds represent public money crucial for Noida’s development. Reclaiming unused land will allow us to reallocate it and generate additional revenue to support key projects and enhance urban infrastructure.”
