PDA launches Phase IV of Urban Estate

Tribune News Service

Patiala, June 20

The Patiala Development Authority (PDA) has launched Phase IV of the Urban Estate Housing project after a gap of three years. The PDA has already successfully developed three phases under the project.

The PDA has acquired about 75 acres of land in Faloli village, situated adjacent to Phase II on the Patiala-Rajpura road, under its land pooling scheme. 

Under the scheme, land owners have the option of having residential as well as commercial landholding stakes in lieu of their land acquired.

Moreover, the land owners can choose the size of the residential plots, while in case of commercial land, no option would be given to the land owner in choosing the size. 

Commercial space will be allotted in a preferential manner, going from big to small sizes. The allotment of both residential and commercial sites will be made through draw of lots.

PDA’s chief administrator Harpreet Singh Sudan said though it was a residential-cum-commercial scheme, the Patiala Development Authority had come up with at least 104 residential plots.

“We have divided plots into six categories, starting from 100 square yards to 500 square yards. The reserved land price is approved at Rs 14,000 per square yard,” Sudan said.

He said the PDA had also introduced online application system for the first time. “The scheme will close on July 20, while the draw of lots will be carried on September 18. The possession of plots will be given within 22 months,” Sudan said.

The PDA had sent the proposal in August last year to the state’s Town Planning Department for final clearance after finalising the layout plan for residential-cum-commercial areas in Phase IV.

After the success of the Urban Estate Housing Project here, the PDA’s plan of extending it was short-lived after the farmers refused to hand over 1,055 acre of fertile land in 2014. In this extension, the Patiala Development Authority planned to develop Phase IV of Urban Estate on the Patiala-Bhadson road and construct the Sirhind-Bhadson bypass. 

The PDA approached farmers of six villages, including Seona, Rongla, Hasanpur, Jassowal, Baran and Sidhuwal, for acquisition of land, but the deal failed to materialise due to the fear of displacement among farmers. However, following objections from the farmers, the Patiala Development Authority finally dumped its plan and started looking for land at a new location.