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The Uttar Pradesh government is preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to streamline the transfer of townships from private developers or development authorities to local civic bodies. The move aims to eliminate delays and disputes that leave residents grappling with poor maintenance and double taxation.

A state-level meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, where officials from municipal corporations and development authorities of Ghaziabad, Kanpur, and Lucknow will discuss recommendations.

According to Rajendra Tyagi, a five-time councillor with the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation (GMC), private developers often exploit regulatory loopholes to delay handovers, charging exorbitant maintenance fees from homebuyers. ""Maintenance costs under developers are far higher than municipal taxes for water, sewerage, and house tax,"" Tyagi stated, adding that residents are sometimes forced to pay both municipal taxes and developers' fees.

GMC Chief Engineer NK Choudhary confirmed that the state government has requested suggestions, which will guide the formation of a committee to draft rules ensuring seamless handovers.

Persistent Delays in Ghaziabad

In Ghaziabad, six townships, including Madhuban Bapudham and Swarnjyantipuram, developed by the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), have awaited handover to GMC for over two decades. Privately developed townships like Raj Nagar Extension and Wave City also face prolonged delays.

The Indirapuram township case highlights the challenges in such transfers. Spread across 1,222 acres, its handover dragged on since 2016 over disagreements between GDA and GMC on infrastructure costs. The dispute was resolved in October this year when GDA paid Rs 700 million to GMC for infrastructure upgrades.

Resident Ashwini Shastri from Indirapuram criticized the prolonged process, saying, ""Notices for house tax arrears of over 10 years have been issued despite GDA managing water and sewerage for 25 years. The lack of clarity in the handover process has resulted in unfair practices.""

Path Forward

The proposed SOPs aim to:

Set clear timelines for handovers.

Resolve disputes over incomplete work and funding.

Protect residents from unfair maintenance charges and double taxation.

By addressing these issues, the UP government seeks to uphold residents' rights while ensuring accountability among developers and authorities.