Gurgaon: The land acquisition department is currently seized with the matter pertaining to landowners from Islampur and Basai villages.Even as land acquisition gathers pace for the Old Gurgaon Metro project, several landowners have demanded employment in the metro project, alternative land and enhanced compensation in exchange for surrendering their properties. Residents from both villages have pressed for “higher compensation”, claiming that the existing rates do not reflect the commercial value of the land.They have conveyed their demands to the land acquisition department, which is expected to place the matter before the Gurgaon deputy commissioner-led land purchase committee (LPC) constituted under the Haryana govt’s land purchase policy for the metro project. The nine-member LPC was constituted in Jan 2026.An officer told TOI, “A key demand raised by the landowners is employment for one member from each affected family in GMRL or the metro project. They argued that acquisition of ancestral land would impact their long-term livelihood and that job opportunities should be provided as part of the rehabilitation package.”According to officials, around 10,883 square metres of land is required from Kanhai, Islampur and Basai villages for the proposed metro corridor. In Kanhai village, about 534 square metres of land belonging to Fortis Hospital in Sector 44 is needed for the construction of the Millennium City Centre metro station. The land is currently being used as a parking area by the hospital.The land acquisition department recently sought responses from affected landowners in Islampur and Basai villages. In a joint representation submitted to the land acquisition officer, 11 landowners from Islampur village said that they were willing to part with their land but sought either alternative plots or compensation based on prevailing market rates in Sector 33.These landowners include Rakesh Kumar, Jawahar Singh, Dharmveer Singh, Rajbeer Singh, Rambeer Singh, Pratap Singh, Suraj Bhan, Jagdish Singh, Deepak Kumar, Shribhagwan and Bhim Singh. Dharmbeer, Vijaypal, Satbeer, Rajbeer, Mukesh and Mohit said the land being acquired has been in their families for generations and sought compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh per square yard or allotment of alternative land.Ramrati, a resident of Basai village, said her land is situated on the main road and demanded compensation of Rs 5 lakh per square yard. Other villagers — including Bhagwan Singh, Rajendra, Omprakash and Mukesh — expressed concerns that acquisition of their properties could leave several families without homes and sources of income.The residents urged authorities to ensure proper rehabilitation and resettlement before finalising the acquisition process. They said any decision should take into account the affected families’ right to housing and livelihood security and should not be taken unilaterally.Officials said the representations received from the landowners would be examined and placed before the district-level committee for consideration. The committee is expected to take a call on the demands while finalising land procurement for the metro project.LPC’s members include the additional CEO of GMDA, joint commissioner of MCG, the land acquisition officer as member secretary, district town planner, district revenue officer, GMRL directors for finance and project planning, and executive engineers from GMDA, the irrigation department and PWD. Officers from the agriculture and forest departments may be included as special invitees where required for valuation of land and other assets, it was notified.The authority will purchase land based on higher compensation norms as per the new policy, as more than 30 families are expected to be affected and more than 100 structures may need to be acquired.A plot allotted by HSVP in Sector 9 also falls on the route, where construction has already begun. Several houses in Sector 4 are also located along the corridor and HSVP has issued notices to two plot owners regarding acquisition. Meanwhile, according to a GMDA officer, a survey found 38 houses in Sector 4 and 83 in other areas were unauthorised constructions built without approval. Officials said demolition will begin after the land acquisition process starts.
