Sports City: The Noida administration did not supply land as ordered by the court, the developer tells HC

According to the programme, a consortium of enterprises was entitled to compete on the plot allotment of 503,000 sqm. ATS Homes competed on behalf of a partnership of ten firms, and the consortium was awarded 393,276.75 square meters of land, with the remaining 109,723.25 square meters recommended for acquisition by the Noida authority. (HT Archives)

Noida has determined that ATS Homes should first build sports facilities. But the developer stated that they do not have enough land for that.

Realty firm ATS Home Private Limited has urged the Allahabad High Court that the Noida government has not followed the prior decision to give appropriate land for the development of Sports City in Noida's Sector 152.

The developer further told the court that the state government echoed the Noida authority's position rather than exercising its own discretion.

In 2015, the Noida administration proposed a project to grant a plot for an international cricket stadium and sports city in Sector 152. According to the program, a consortium of enterprises was entitled to compete on the plot allotment of 503,000 sqm. ATS Homes competed on behalf of a partnership of ten firms, and the consortium was awarded 393,276.75 square meters of land, with the remaining 109,723.25 square meters recommended for acquisition by the Noida authority.

The developer completed certain levels in the project's residential and commercial buildings but did not include any sports facilities. In January 2021, the Noida authorities prohibited the sale and purchase of flats and plots in the project, claiming that the real estate firm should first establish sports facilities for public use before building dwelling units. However, the developer insisted that they do not have enough property for the same.

In light of the ATS Group's comments, the high court has directed Manish Goel, an assistant advocate general for the state, to present the Uttar Pradesh government's position on the next day of the hearing, April 3, 2024.

In September 2023, the Allahabad High Court asked the Noida authority to file a reply affidavit in response to a writ filed by ATS Homes in September 2022, stating that it had yet to receive 109,723.25 square meters (sqm) of housing land in Noida's Sector 152.

The appeal further questioned the authority's decision to rescind the allotment, while also requesting additional time to complete the housing project and payment waivers for the delay in allotting the remaining land.

The developer filed the writ petition after the Noida authorities began revoking the allotment on the grounds that the real estate firm failed to complete the project within the time frame specified.

The ATS stated that out of the 125 acres authorized for the project in 2015, the authority had yet to transfer over custody of around 25 acres.

The ATS sought the high court to direct the authority to make the full designated land available in a timely manner and free of encroachments. It also requested that the authority offer it a "zero period" in which the lease fee and other connected interests are waived until the complete turnover of the land.

During the March 11, 2024 hearing, ATS Homes' lawyer stated that the high court order issued in April 2023 had not been followed.

When asked for a comment, Noida Authority CEO Lokesh M stated, "We would look into the problem. The developers of various projects, including Sports City, have been in contact with the authority, and efforts are underway to obtain land from farmers through conversation.

Getambar Anand, the promoter of ATS Homes, was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts.

Source: Hindustan Times