However, amid the celebrations, an unusual obstacle has captured national attention—a small two-storey structure named Swabhiman House, standing firmly in the middle of a crucial exit ramp.
A House in the Middle of Progress
Located in Mandola village near Ghaziabad, the Swabhiman House sits directly along the expressway’s key exit route from Dehradun to Delhi. The structure occupies around 1,000 square meters, with an additional 600 square meters under dispute. This land lies within a 1,600 square meter stretch required by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to complete the exit ramp.
Because the house remains unmoved, authorities have been unable to finalize this section of the project. As a temporary workaround, NHAI has constructed a narrow service road behind the property. While functional, this solution is far from ideal, potentially leading to congestion, reduced traffic capacity, and safety concerns—especially for vehicles merging toward the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.
A Dispute Rooted in the Past
The origins of this issue date back nearly three decades to the Uttar Pradesh Housing Board’s Mandola Housing Scheme. In 1998, approximately 2,614 acres of land were acquired from six villages, with farmers offered compensation of around ₹1,100 per square meter.
While most landowners accepted the offer, one farmer, Veersen Saroha, challenged the acquisition in the Allahabad High Court. He successfully secured a stay order on his 1,600 square meter plot—land that now forms the core of the current dispute.
Over time, the land was transferred to NHAI for the expressway project, but the legal stay remained in effect, preventing authorities from taking possession.
The Family’s Stand for Fair Compensation
Following Veersen Saroha’s passing, his family continues the legal battle. His grandson, Lakshyaveer Saroha, and niece, Pooja Nehra, are demanding compensation based on current market rates rather than the outdated valuation from 1998.
They argue that accepting decades-old prices would be unjust given the dramatic rise in land value. In 2024, Lakshyaveer approached the Supreme Court, questioning the legality of the land transfer. The case was subsequently referred to the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.
A Project in Limbo
Despite the expressway’s inauguration, this unresolved legal dispute continues to delay full operational efficiency. According to NHAI officials, construction has been held up due to ongoing litigation, with a court hearing scheduled for April 16.
Until a resolution is reached, Swabhiman House remains a striking symbol of resistance—standing quite literally in the middle of a major national infrastructure project, highlighting the complex balance between development and individual rights.
