The announcement follows the 2023 killing of gangster‑politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother, a crime that left the area shrouded in fear. Adityanath said the land had been freed from the duo’s control and would now serve ordinary citizens.
PDA Secretary Vineet Kumar Singh explained the Padma Lok Apartment project will span 9,811 square metres, housing 602 two‑bedroom flats. A lottery held in April 2025 selected beneficiaries, a first for the region.
In a move that echoes the BJP’s zero‑tolerance pledge, the chief minister warned that anyone illegally occupying government land would face confiscation and legal action. He added that ancestral properties could be seized to fund further housing.
Residents like Meera Gupta, who lost her home to gang extortion, will receive a new flat by the end of the year. The next phase, set for early 2027, will see the remaining 598 families receive homes as construction progresses.