In an exclusive interview, Sahil Luthra — Founder and Managing Director of Vijayan Trishul Defence Solution and the visionary force behind S L Investors — delves into the strategy redefining land banking in North India. With a concentrated focus on Delhi and Greater Noida, S L Investors champions a long-term, infrastructure-aligned approach rooted in patient capital, rigorous research, and community-centric development. Luthra shares how the firm is resisting short-term pressures to create sustainable, high-impact land assets that align with regional planning and public infrastructure — positioning S L Investors as a key player in shaping the future urban fabric of Delhi-NCR.
1. What guided your decision-making when identifying Delhi and Greater Noida for land banking?
We focused on Delhi and Greater Noida due to their strategic location, infrastructure potential, and rapid urban expansion. These areas are key growth engines for North India. By acquiring land in development corridors, we align with long-term regional planning goals and support responsible urbanisation. Our strategy is to invest early, anticipate upcoming government infrastructure, and create value by enabling planned growth through sustainable land banking.
2. How do you balance long-term land banking with short-term pressures?
We prioritize long-term value over short-term gains. For example, in Greater Noida, we waited for key infrastructure announcements before initiating development. This patience allowed us to align with future demand and deliver lasting impact. Our family-owned land model gives us the flexibility to resist short-term market pressure and instead focus on building meaningful, high-quality assets aligned with future growth, community needs, and infrastructure readiness.
3. How do you ensure your land development aligns with urban growth and community needs?
We conduct thorough due diligence on zoning, infrastructure projects, and demographic trends before acquisition. Our planning considers regional connectivity, environmental impact, and local demand. We stay aligned with policies like Master Plans, TOD nodes, and logistics hubs. More importantly, we evaluate how our developments can enhance community well-being — whether through access to transport, green space, or sustainable layout planning — ensuring our land banking serves future residents meaningfully.
4. What sets S L Investors apart from others in the land sector?
Unlike firms driven by rapid returns, we follow a patient, purpose-led approach. Our core strategy is to hold land until all factors — market, infrastructure, and policy — converge for optimal development. We focus on organic growth, ground-level research, and stakeholder alignment. Every step, from acquisition to planning, is built around people-first principles. This vision of stability and sustainability sets us apart in a sector often led by speculation.
5. What is your 5–10 year vision for shaping Delhi-NCR’s land banking landscape?
Our vision over the next decade is to be a proactive enabler of the Delhi-NCR region’s transformation through infrastructure-aligned land planning. We aim to support and participate in government-backed initiatives such as Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), smart urban settlements, multi-modal logistics hubs, and affordable housing corridors through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP).
We plan to unlock the value of our land bank by aligning with future metro corridors, elevated road infrastructure, regional expressways, and state-led infrastructure programs like the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Jewar Airport zone, and Dedicated Freight Corridors. By embedding long-term vision with community-first planning, we seek to build resilient assets that serve both the economy and society through responsible land banking.
