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On 22 September 2026, the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) ran another drive against illegal plotting. With police support, the ADA team demolished plotting that was being developed on around 320 biswa of land in the Sirsinda area, including roughly 200 biswa in Rampur Halwara behind a local school, and two more pieces of about 60 biswa each nearby.
ADA's secretary made it clear that the campaign against plotting without an approved layout will continue.
And it's not a one-off. Earlier in 2026, ADA demolished around 200 biswa of illegal plotting in Hansapur and Tonia Bihari Pur. This keeps happening because demand for land in Ayodhya is huge, and some sellers are cutting corners to cash in.
The people who lose out in these drives are usually not the plotters. It's the families who paid for a plot, sometimes their life savings, without checking whether the colony was legal.
So let's talk about how to make sure that's not you.
What makes a plot "illegal"?
In most cases, it's simple. Someone buys agricultural land, cuts it into small plots, lays a rough road, puts up a gate with a nice name, and starts selling. What's missing is the layout approval from ADA.
Without that approval, the colony has no legal standing as a residential development inside the authority's area. That means it can be demolished, you may not get a map passed to build, and basic services like proper roads and drainage may never come.
Your checklist before buying a plot in Ayodhya
Go through every point. If the seller dodges any of them, walk away.
1. Ask for the ADA-approved layout. For any colony inside the ADA area, the developer should be able to show an approved layout plan. Don't accept "approval is in process." Check it with ADA directly if you can.
2. Check the khatauni. The khatauni (record of rights) shows who owns the land on revenue records. Make sure the seller's name matches and the land area matches what's being sold.
3. Confirm mutation (dakhil kharij). If the seller bought the land recently, make sure the mutation in their name is complete. A pending mutation is a red flag.
4. Check the land use in the master plan. Ayodhya's master plan marks land for different uses. If your plot falls in a green belt, road widening zone or non-residential area, you'll have trouble building on it.
5. Find out if it's Nazul land. Ayodhya has a lot of Nazul land (government-owned land with special rules). Buying it from a private seller can create serious title problems. Ask, and verify.
6. Check non-agricultural conversion. If the land is agricultural and you want to build a house, it needs a declaration for non-agricultural use under section 80 of the UP Revenue Code. Ask whether it's done.
7. Look for UP RERA registration on larger projects. Bigger plotted projects generally need registration with UP RERA. If a large colony isn't registered, ask why.
8. Register the sale deed properly. Pay through banking channels, register the sale deed at the sub-registrar's office, and pay stamp duty on the correct value. "Cash in hand" deals at below-circle-rate values often come back to bite buyers.
9. Visit the land in person. Check access roads, neighbours, water and power. Talk to people living nearby. They often know more than any document.
Why this matters more in Ayodhya than elsewhere
Ayodhya's land market has changed dramatically since the Ram Mandir. Circle rates near the temple rose by more than 150% in the June 2025 revision, and visitor numbers have exploded. More money and more demand mean more people trying to sell land fast, including some who shouldn't be selling it at all.
That doesn't mean Ayodhya is a bad place to buy. Far from it. It just means you need to buy carefully.
Frequently asked questions
What is illegal plotting in Ayodhya?
Cutting land into plots and selling them without a layout approved by the Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA). Such colonies can be demolished.
How do I check if a plot in Ayodhya is legal?
Ask for the ADA-approved layout, check the khatauni and mutation, confirm the land use and whether it's Nazul land, and make sure the land is converted for non-agricultural use if needed.
Is it safe to buy land in Ayodhya?
Yes, if the papers and approvals are in order. The risk comes from unapproved plotting and unclear titles, not from Ayodhya itself.
How AwadhLand handles this
At AwadhLand, we don't show buyers land we haven't checked. Before we list anything, we look at ownership records, mutation status and land use, and we flag anything that doesn't add up. If you're looking at a plot in Ayodhya (even one you found elsewhere), we're happy to talk you through what to verify.
This article is for general information based on public reports as of 25 October 2026, and is not legal advice. For any purchase, get the documents checked by a qualified lawyer and confirm approvals directly with ADA.