Khudana project back in focus amid announcement of six new IMTs

The Industrial Model Township (IMT) project at Khudana village in Mahendragarh district has come back into focus following the state government’s recent announcement to establish six new IMTs across various districts. This has triggered resentment among residents, who point out that the Khudana IMT, announced several years ago, remains unexecuted. They are now demanding that the project be implemented without further delay.

When was the foundation of the Khudana IMT project laid?

The foundation stone for the IMT project at Khudana was laid in February 2019 by the then Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. A budget of Rs 200 crore was also announced for developing the township’s basic infrastructure. The announcement raised hopes among local residents, who expected industrial development to bring in significant employment opportunities. The then Mahendragarh MLA Rambilas Sharma, who was also serving as the Education Minister, had termed it a dream project for the region.

What does the Khudana IMT project involve?

The project is planned over a total area of 1,654 acres. Of this, the Khudana Gram Panchayat has passed a resolution to provide 1,032 acres of panchayat land. The remaining 622 acres are privately owned. To ensure proper connectivity with major roads, two 60-meter-wide access roads have been proposed — one from Akoda to Khudana, requiring over 20 acres, and another from Adalpur to Khudana, requiring about 29 acres. However, both road links have failed to take shape due to the reluctance of some private landowners to part with their land.

What are the main hurdles delaying the project?

The biggest challenge is the lack of direct connectivity between the project site and the Dadri-Narnaul highway. While the state government has aimed to provide seamless access, the plan has been delayed because several landowners are unwilling to sell their land. To facilitate voluntary land registration, the e-Bhumi portal was opened twice, first in June and again in December last year, but very few landowners came forward.

What is the current status of the project?

As of now, the project remains stalled, mainly due to the non-availability of land required for road connectivity. Local BJP MLA Kanwar Singh Yadav has said that efforts are underway to convince the villagers to sell their land for the construction of the link roads. He also raised the issue in the state Assembly, where HSIIDC officials acknowledged the land-related hurdles and said that work would commence once the required land was acquired. It is learnt that in 2020, the HSIIDC had also tried to move the project forward by inviting expressions of Interest from industrial units.

How would the Khudana IMT benefit the residents?

Once implemented, the IMT in Khudana is expected to attract a significant number of industries, which would in turn create ample employment opportunities for the local population. In addition to direct jobs, it would also support the growth of small-scale businesses and service providers that typically develop around industrial hubs.

The residents believe the project is vital for the economic growth and industrial development of Mahendragarh district and are urging the government to act on its promises without any further delay.