In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has upheld the land acquisition process for the Yamuna Expressway, affirming the State’s use of urgency provisions under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. The ruling supports the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) in its efforts to accelerate the transformative infrastructure project connecting Delhi to Agra and the upcoming Jewar Airport.
Rejecting objections from landowners, the Court backed the application of Sections 17(1) and 17(4) of the Act, which bypass the requirement for public objections under Section 5-A. The decision deemed this approach crucial for the integrated development of the Expressway and its surrounding areas, emphasizing its role as a “vital heartline” for millions of commuters and a catalyst for economic growth in Uttar Pradesh.
The bench, comprising Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice Sandeep Mehta, addressed conflicting rulings from the Allahabad High Court. In one instance, the Kamal Sharma verdict upheld the urgency clause for the project, citing its developmental importance. Conversely, another ruling in Shyoraj Singh questioned the clause’s legitimacy, leading to this Supreme Court review.
The Court declared the Shyoraj Singh judgment invalid, noting it overlooked prior precedents. Referencing the Supreme Court’s earlier stance in Nand Kishore Gupta v. State of Uttar Pradesh, it reinforced that the integrated development of the Expressway and adjoining lands justified the urgency invoked.
Highlighting the expansive vision of the project, the Court observed that the Expressway is not merely a transportation link but an anchor for industrial, residential, and recreational development in the region. It emphasized that separating these components would undermine the project’s holistic nature and its potential to uplift the state’s economy.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court dismissed landowners’ appeals, affirming that the acquisition was legally sound and essential for the Expressway’s comprehensive development plan. YEIDA’s appeal was allowed, cementing the project’s trajectory toward shaping Uttar Pradesh’s infrastructural and economic future.
