The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the land acquisition proceedings initiated for the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) project in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh. The top court observed that Yamuna Expressway is a vital heartline providing access to millions of commuters from the National Capital Delhi to Agra and it would be unjustifiable to question the acquisition that it was not for integrated development of lands abutting the Yamuna Expressway.

A bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta rejected the landowner’s contention that land acquisition proceedings stand vitiated because the land acquisition was not a part of an integrated development plan involving the Yamuna Expressway.

While upholding the land aquisition the top court said that the Expressway also connects the prestigious upcoming Jewar Airport to adjoining areas.

“To assume that the Yamuna Expressway is a simple highway without any scope for simultaneous development of the adjoining lands for commercial, residential and other such activities would be unconceivable. A project of such magnitude and enormity would definitely require the involvement of the adjoining areas which would lead to an overall development of the State of Uttar Pradesh at large,” the court said.

The bench further said that the development of land parcels for industrial, residential, and recreational purposes is complementary to the construction of the Yamuna Expressway. The objective of the acquisition is to integrate land development with the Yamuna Expressway’s construction, thereby promoting overall growth serving the public interest.

“Consequently, the Expressway and the development of adjoining lands are considered to be inseparable components of the overall project,” the top court added.

The apex court thus upheld the land acquisition proceedings commenced under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (the Act), for the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) project in Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh.