Private builders in Mohali gain as GMADA delays projects

According to the development authority, the land acquisition proceedings were initiated in accordance with the approved Master Plan of New Chandigarh by publishing a preliminary notification under Section 4 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, on November 15, 2022.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development had constituted an expert group for the appraisal of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report submitted by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The expert group had made recommendations to the administrative secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Punjab on June 5, 2023.

“The recommendations were approved at the level of competent authority. Accordingly, the issuance of notification under Section 11 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act was supposed to be made within 12 months from the date of submission of appraisal of SIA report by the expert group but on account of ‘administrative reasons’ some delay has occurred and this notification could not be issued,” an official of GMADA said .

Now, the notification for land acquisition, which was to be issued in June, is extended to December 4.

Similarly, other major projects of developing low and high density housing schemes are also delayed as the land acquisition for these projects will be started by December 4, which was supposed to be initiated in June. The development authority will acquire a total of 309 acres of land for developing low and high density projects. The land is to be acquired in Mullanpur Garibdas village.

In the other project, which is to make a road dividing Sector 91 and Sector 91 Alpha in Mohali, the GMADA had to acquire a total of 14.75 acres of land. The process of acquiring the land was supposed to be initiated by June this year but it is delayed by August 31.

An official of the GMADA told The Indian Express that the delay had occurred due to some administrative reasons and the elections were also due this year. The officer added that the land acquisition for the projects will be completed in accordance with the extended deadlines.

As of now around 200 small and big developers are active in Mohali district, which are playing a major role in the development of the housing projects in Mohali, Kharar, Zirakpur and Derabassi and also deciding the fate of the real estate market in the region.

When the GMADA launches any big projects, it affects the real estate market as the private players compete with the development authority.

Ashok Kumar, the former president of Mohali Property Consultants Association (MPCA) told this newspaper that whenever the development authority launches any project, competition increases, which affects the real estate market in a positive way.

“People believe in GMADA projects. Anything the GMADA launches has a positive effect on the real estate market. Any delay in such projects causes a turnaround in this phenomenon,” Kumar added.