Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath handed over the keys of 72 newly constructed flats to low-income families in Lucknow homes built on land once illegally occupied by the late mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. This move marks yet another milestone in CM Yogi’s ongoing mission to reclaim the state’s dignity from criminal syndicates and deliver justice to the poor.
Standing at Dalibagh, in the heart of Lucknow’s posh Hazratganj area, CM Adityanath declared, “The mafia will be removed, and homes will be built for the poor.” His message was clear and uncompromising those who looted public land and exploited the poor for decades will now see that very land used to uplift the underprivileged.
The 72 flats have been developed under the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Residential Scheme specifically for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS). Each unit covers 36.65 square meters in three separate G+3 buildings, constructed on a 2,322 square-meter plot reclaimed from Ansari’s illegal possession.
Located strategically near key landmarks like 1090 Chauraha, Sikandarbagh, and Hazratganj Chauraha, the project provides residents easy access to essential facilities. Each flat, priced at just Rs 10.70 lakh, stands in stark contrast to the Rs 1 crore market rate of similar properties in the area a powerful example of redistributing wealth from the mafia to the marginalised.
Modern amenities such as clean water supply, reliable electricity, two-wheeler parking, landscaped green spaces, and security systems underscore the state government’s emphasis on dignity, safety, and quality of life for the poor.
The land was freed from mafia control as part of Uttar Pradesh’s zero-tolerance policy against encroachment and organized crime. Thousands of applicants from across the city registered online for the flats, and a transparent lottery system held on November 4 determined the final allottees.
At the ceremony held in front of DGP Bhavan’s Ekta Van, CM Yogi said, “This is not just a housing distribution ceremony; it is a message that the poor will now receive homes built on land once occupied by the mafia. Those who glorify criminals, offer prayers at their graves, and exploit the poor must understand that such acts will no longer be tolerated in Uttar Pradesh.”
Yogi Adityanath emphasised that no encroacher, however influential, would be spared. He reaffirmed his government’s mission of turning once-feared mafia strongholds into beacons of hope.
“These ruthless mafias belong to no one,” he said. “Because of them, the poor, the marginalised, traders, and even our sisters and daughters were unsafe. Our government will continue strict action not only against mafias but also against those who patronise them.”
This marks the second major housing project built on confiscated mafia land following the 2023 Prayagraj project, where Yogi handed over 76 PMAY houses constructed on land seized from slain gangster Atiq Ahmed. The government has since identified at least a dosen more plots once under mafia control that will be used for similar housing projects, according to officials in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
A senior CMO official said, “These initiatives reflect the Chief Minister’s vision of transforming Uttar Pradesh from a land once held hostage by mafias into one where every poor person has a home of their own.” Calling the project’s completion on Kartik Purnima an auspicious moment, CM Yogi said the housing scheme reflects the true spirit of a new India and a new Uttar Pradesh one rooted in justice, faith, and equality.
“This is just the beginning,” he declared. “We will expand this campaign across the state so that every poor person gets a home, and every piece of land stolen by mafias is returned to the people.”
Since 2017, Yogi Adityanath’s administration has waged an uncompromising war on organised crime. From bulldosing illegal properties to confiscating mafia wealth and converting it into welfare infrastructure, his governance model has redefined law enforcement and public accountability in Uttar Pradesh.
