Mohali, May 5: Nearly 10 years after it was first proposed, the long-stalled development of Mohali’s Sector 90 has finally gained momentum, thanks to a crucial land swap cleared by the Punjab government.
The project, which had been held up due to red tape and environmental restrictions, got a fresh lease of life after the state approved the exchange of 23 acres of protected forest land under the Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, with equivalent land in Ludhiana’s Mattewara village.
The move allows the previously protected land in Sector 90 to be used for non-forest purposes, a significant step toward starting development.
The Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) had acquired 229 acres in 2015 near Lakhnaur village under the Punjab government’s land pooling scheme.
However, the authority failed to obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the forest department for six years, only later discovering that 23 acres of the land fell under the PLPA—making it ineligible for construction without diversion approval.
“We have now received communication from the Punjab government regarding the swapping of 23 acres of forest land with land in Mattewara village, Ludhiana,” a senior GMADA official confirmed.
“We will inform the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change next. Once we receive their clearance, the development of Sector 90 will begin. We are hopeful the work will start within two months.”
GMADA officials said that layout plans are already in place and will soon be submitted to the planning and development department for final approval.
According to the project blueprint, Sector 90 spans 144 acres. Residential plots ranging from 100 to 500 square yards are planned across 29 acres, with 14 acres designated for commercial development and 11 acres for institutional use.
An additional 8 acres will be developed as parks, 2 acres are earmarked for waterworks, and 28 acres will be allocated for roads and infrastructure.
The progress brings long-awaited relief to nearly 700 allottees who have been waiting for land possession for almost a decade.
