The DDA land transfer by Delhi LG is expected to strengthen higher education infrastructure in Delhi and support the development of Narela as an education hub.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena on Tuesday oversaw the formal handing over of possession of more than 35 acres of land by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and Delhi Teachers’ University (DTeU) at Narela, marking a significant step towards expanding higher education infrastructure in the national capital.
The handover took place in the presence of Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood and senior officials of the DDA and the education department. The land will be utilised for setting up new university campuses, which officials said would help address the growing demand for quality higher education and ease pressure on existing institutions.
According to the Lieutenant Governor, the proposed campuses are expected to play a key role in the planned development of Narela as an education hub and a self-sustaining model sub-city with modern civic amenities. The initiative aligns with the DDA’s broader urban development strategy aimed at promoting decentralised growth in the outer areas of Delhi.
Officials also highlighted delays in the project under the previous government. Although the land was allotted in January 2024, the earlier dispensation did not release funds for its acquisition, despite repeated requests from the universities concerned. This led to the project remaining stalled for several months.
The situation changed after the new government assumed office last year, with ₹500 crore allocated for the purchase of the land in its first budget. Of this amount, ₹452 crore has already been paid to the DDA, enabling the formal transfer of possession. An additional ₹500 crore has been approved in the Revised Estimates for 2025–26 to support further development and related infrastructure.
READ: Will the World Look Away as Trump Moves to Grab Greenland?
Government officials said the timely release of funds underlines the administration’s focus on execution and long-term planning. The establishment of the new campuses is expected to generate employment opportunities, boost local economic activity, and improve access to higher education for students from Delhi and neighbouring regions.
Once operational, the campuses of GGSIPU and DTeU are likely to offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, teacher training courses, and research facilities. Authorities said detailed project timelines and construction plans will be finalised in the coming months.
