Jewar Airport Boom Fuels Property Scams: How To Avoid Getting Duped In Land Deals

With the Jewar Airport nearing completion and slated to be officially inaugurated on October 30, the surrounding region has turned into a real estate hotspot. However, the promise of rising land values has also opened the floodgates for frauds — from forged documents and fake plots to dubious builder schemes. Investors and homebuyers, therefore, are increasingly at risk unless proper due diligence is done.

According to industry experts, there has been a marked increase in fraudulent activities in the region, primarily involving the sale of fictitious plots, use of forged land documents, manipulation of maps, and repeated resale of single plots to multiple buyers.

“Notably, perpetrators have created non-existent plot numbers, forged Power of Attorney documents, and impersonated legitimate landowners to defraud investors and homebuyers,” says Suresh Palav, Partner, IndiaLaw LLP.

Methods Used to Lure Investors and Buyers

Unsuspecting investors are often enticed by assurances of prime locations adjacent to the airport, complimentary site visits, and promises of exceptional returns as the region develops.

“Social media advertising and influencer marketing campaigns are used to sell unauthorized plots to people with low budgets, often offering easy installment payment options,” says Pradeep Mishra, CMD, ORAM Developments.

Fraudsters may also present fabricated or unofficial documents, offer plots in unauthorized or banned zones, or exploit buyers unfamiliarity with applicable local regulations to mislead them.

Legal Safeguards and Government Oversight

The Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) mandate explicit approvals for all plots and proposed constructions within a 20-kilometre radius of the Jewar Airport. Valid property transactions in notified sectors require thorough scrutiny of title deeds, mutation records, land use permissions, and certified registrations.

Regulatory bodies have also tightened their due diligence mechanisms, with registry offices and financial institutions now subjecting property documents and ownership chains to enhanced verification. RERA registration remains mandatory for all approved developments.

Enhanced Monitoring and Enforcement Measures

Recognizing the heightened risk, authorities have intensified anti-encroachment operations, demolished unauthorized developments, and increased law enforcement vigilance in the region.

“Numerous criminal cases have been registered, and substantial tracts of compromised land have been reclaimed. Regulatory steps include mandatory NOCs from AAI, strict adherence to the colour-coded zoning map, enforcement of building height norms, and robust surveillance to deter unlawful transactions and construction activity,” informs Palav.

Precautions For Investors And Buyers

Despite all these measures and anti-encroachment operations, there has been a marked increase in fraudulent activities in the region. Industry experts are advising investors to look beyond the hype and closely examine the nuts and bolts of all claims related to infrastructure-driven growth.

“It is imperative to study the actual property appreciation dynamics involved while considering a property that lies in the influence zone of a major infrastructure project or upgrade. A proper assessment of the demand drivers will help determine the genuine investment potential on a case-to-case basis,” says Dr. Prashant Thakur, Executive Director & Head – Research & Advisory, ANAROCK Group.

Thakur informs that property buyers are invariably confronted with a sudden rise in property rates because of the announcement of an infrastructure project. A proper assessment can be done with AI tools to make reasonable analyses and predictions with regards to demand, supply, and financial viability to determine if the premium being quoted is justified.

To give an example, developers in Pune’s Keshavnagar have been promoting their projects on the back of a new connecting bridge between this location and the IT pocket of Kharadi.

“This bridge has been in limbo for several years and none of the promised benefits have accrued to property buyers. There are many such instances, and investors would do well to also invest time and effort into determining whether there is ‘real’ substance to the claims being made,” suggests Thakur.

Palav advises buyers to take these precautionary steps before investing in any land or project in the surrounding region of Jewar Airport:

• Ensure land title and a clear, at least 30-year, chain of ownership are independently verified by a qualified advocate.

• Restrict purchases to properties with valid YEIDA and AAI approvals, located in officially notified and legally compliant sectors.

• Refrain from transacting on the basis of site visits or cash deals alone; insist on formal registration through statutory authorities.

• Diligently verify zoning permissions, mutation entries, and all requisite No Objection Certificates (NOCs) in official records.

• Exercise caution where offers appear disproportionately attractive or where sellers withhold documentation from proper legal scrutiny.

Adherence to these precautions is critical for mitigating risk and safeguarding investments, particularly given the region’s status as an emerging property investment hub accompanied by a proliferation of fraudulent schemes.