Become A Partner
 
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. How One House Is Blocking Delhi-Dehradun Expressway? 1998 Story of Mandola’s ‘Swabhiman’

How One House Is Blocking Delhi-Dehradun Expressway? 1998 Story of Mandola’s ‘Swabhiman’

15 Apr 2026

The Delhi-Dehradun Expressway's functionality is hindered by the "Swabhiman House" in Mandola village, which occupies land essential for an exit ramp. The property owner, Virsen Saroha, has contested land acquisition since 1998, leading to ongoing legal disputes that have prevented its demolition. , Delhi News, Times Now
How One House Is Blocking Delhi-Dehradun Expressway? 1998 Story of Mandola’s ‘Swabhiman’

Delhi-Dehradun Expressway Halted by a Single House

Despite the recent inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway on April 14 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a single two-storey house in Mandola village, Ghaziabad, continues to obstruct the project's full functionality.

The "Swabhiman House" - A 25-Year-Old Land Dispute

Known as the "Swabhiman House", this property occupies a crucial area designated for an exit ramp that connects the expressway to Delhi and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway.

  • The house occupies approximately 1,000 sq m of the 1,600 sq m needed for the ramp.
  • An additional 600 sq m of land currently under dispute.

The standoff of this land dispute dates back to 1998, when the Uttar Pradesh Housing Development Board initiated a land acquisition process for the Mandola Housing Scheme.

Legal Complications of 'Swabhiman House' Since 1998

  • The Uttar Pradesh Housing Development Board initiated a land acquisition process for the Mandola Housing Scheme in 1998.
  • The owner of the Swabhiman House, Virsen Saroha, contested the acquisition in the Allahabad High Court.
  • The court subsequently granted a stay on the demolition of his property, which remains in effect today.
  • The case reached the Supreme Court in 2024, which directed the Allahabad High Court to expedite proceedings.

Virsen’s daughter-in-law, Puja Saroha, told the Times of India they are not opposed to a resolution. "In the larger interest, we want to get out of this, and now that the expressway has opened, it has become all the more necessary. All we want is fair compensation, and for that we are fighting the case," she said.

The Current Situation of House

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has installed crash barriers around the Swabhiman House and created a narrow service road as a workaround for traffic.

  • Vehicles struggle to navigate the dusty and uneven terrain, leading to an accident-prone area.
  • A signboard behind the crash barrier overlooking the house now states, “The matter is sub judice in the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court”.

The recent clarification from the Press Information Bureau (PIB) confirmed that the issue is limited to a 90-metre stretch of the service road adjacent to Ramp-5, which is affected by the ongoing litigation.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Delhi, Delhi Weather & AQI and around the world.