GDA expands jurisdiction by 21,000 hectares in Ghaziabad

The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has approved a plan to expand its jurisdiction. This decision was made during a board meeting on Tuesday. The GDA will now include land from 61 villages located along the Delhi Meerut Expressway (DME) and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (EPE). The expansion will add about 21,000 hectares to the GDA area. GDA officials explained that currently, these villages are not part of the draft Master Plan 2031. The Master Plan will help manage development in this area, as the Zila Panchayat is less experienced in town planning. With the new inclusion, GDA will oversee development activities in these villages. Out of the 61 villages, 29 are near the EPE and 32 near the DME. There is significant infrastructure work happening nearby, including the DME, EPE, and regional transit systems. GDA aims to control unplanned growth to ensure future development is organized and legal. The GDA has also presented a revised budget for the current fiscal year and the next. For FY 2024-25, the revised budget is set at ₹ 915.75 crore, while the budget for FY 2025-26 is projected at ₹ 2,132.23 crore. The GDA expects income of ₹ 2,623.42 crore for FY 2025-26. The budget will fund land acquisition, infrastructure projects, and other developmental plans.