In a landmark urban development move, the Punjab government has earmarked 1,000 acres of land across six villages in the Jalandhar Cantonment area for the creation of Urban Estate Phase-3, marking the largest government-backed colony project in the region’s history.
Which all villages will be the part of the project
The six villages set to be part of this ambitious plan are
- Kukkad Pind
- Rehmanpur
- Alipur
- Nangal Karar Khan
- Kotla Kalan
- Kot Khurd
This new urban estate will transform the landscape, blending rural and urban communities and bringing modern infrastructure to the area.
How does the land pooling policy work?
Under Punjab’s newly expanded Land Pooling Policy 2025, farmers and landowners who contribute land for the project will not lose out. Instead, after the government develops the area with roads, parks, water, and sewerage facilities, landowners will receive developed residential and commercial plots in return. For every acre given, the owner will get a 1,000-square-yard residential plot and a 200-square-yard commercial plot—assets expected to have a much higher market value than the original farmland.
The policy is voluntary, not forced. Landowners will also receive a subsistence allowance of ₹30,000 per acre per year for three years, and the government will cover all external development costs. The moment a landowner receives a Letter of Intent, it becomes tradable, giving them additional flexibility.
Key road connectivity
The announcement comes after a decade-long delay in launching Urban Estate Phase-3, despite its inclusion in Jalandhar’s master plan (2009–2031). With only six years left in the current plan, the government is moving quickly to address growing urban housing needs and to prevent the spread of unauthorized colonies.
Infrastructure and connectivity
The new estate will require completion of key road projects, including the Subhana-Sofi Pind Periphery Road and better connections to the National Highway via the Ring Road and Paragpur Road Bypass. These upgrades aim to ease traffic and integrate the new colony with the city, making daily commutes smoother for future residents.
What’s coming up for the residents and farmers?
- Farmers from the six villages will see their land transformed but will retain a stake in the new development through their allotted plots.
- The project promises to merge village and city life, potentially boosting local economies and property values.
- However, the policy has faced criticism from opposition parties and some farmer groups, who argue that fertile land should not be diverted from agriculture and have raised concerns about fair compensation and the risk of land being sold to private developers.
The big picture
This project is part of a broader push by the Punjab government to promote sustainable, planned urban growth in 27 cities and towns across the state. The land pooling model aims to ensure that development is collaborative, not coercive, and that landowners share in the benefits of urban expansion.
For the first time, 1,000 acres across six villages in Jalandhar Cantt will become the site of a massive government-planned colony, with local farmers set to receive developed plots in return for their land. The project is a key test of Punjab’s new land pooling policy, promising both opportunity and challenge as city and village become one.