What it costs to build a home in India — an NRI's turnkey cost guide (YEIDA / Jewar corridor)

How the costs break down — three buckets

Building a home in India as an NRI involves three distinct cost buckets. Understanding them separately is the only way to get a realistic total — and to know which figures are firm and which are variable.

Bucket 1: Plot cost

In the YEIDA corridor near Jewar airport, the indicative plot rate is ₹30,318 per sq yd (approximately ₹36,260/sq m — the YEIDA authority allotment rate, RPS-10 Apr–May 2026, converted). A 200 sq yd plot — the size used throughout this guide as a worked example — therefore costs approximately ₹60.6 lakh at that rate. Plot sizes in YEIDA schemes typically range from around 120 sq yd to 500 sq yd and above; the rate per sq yd is set by YEIDA's scheme brochure and varies by sector and scheme vintage.

Bucket 2: Construction cost

Vidastu's in-house construction is priced per sq ft of built-up area, in three specification tiers. The tiers differ in the quality of finishes, fittings and materials — the structural system (RCC framed structure, brick infill) is the same across all tiers.

• Essential — ₹2,200/sq ft: Standard vitrified flooring, basic sanitary ware, OEM-grade electrical points, painted walls. Functional, clean, ready to occupy. Suitable for buy-to-rent or a starter personal home.
• Premium — ₹2,800/sq ft: Italian/Spanish tile or engineered hardwood flooring in key areas, mid-range sanitary ware (Hindware, Cera or equivalent), modular kitchen shell, false ceiling in living areas, better electrical specification.
• Luxe — ₹3,600/sq ft: Imported stone surfaces, premium sanitary ware (Kohler, Jaquar or equivalent), full modular kitchen, concealed wiring in conduit, home automation provision, higher-grade waterproofing, superior paint finishes.

For a 2,000 sq ft home (across ground + first floor on a 200 sq yd plot — a comfortable 4-bedroom layout), construction costs are: Essential ₹44 lakh, Premium ₹56 lakh, Luxe ₹72 lakh.

Bucket 3: Approvals and fees (~8%)

An 8% provision on the plot cost is used to cover the following transaction and approval costs:

• Stamp duty: UP levies stamp duty at approximately 5% for women buyers or 6% for men, on the registered value of the plot.
• Registration charges: Typically 1% of the transaction value.
• YEIDA processing / development charges: As notified in the scheme brochure; variable by sector and plot size.
• Building plan sanction fees: Paid to YEIDA's planning department for approval of the construction drawings.
• Power of Attorney authentication: Apostille or Indian consulate attestation in your country of residence — typically ₹15,000–50,000 depending on country and notary.
• Miscellaneous: YEIDA correspondence, franking, courier of original documents.

On a ₹58.5 lakh plot, 8% works out to approximately ₹4.7 lakh. Note: the 8% provision is applied on the plot cost, not the construction cost — construction payments to Vidastu do not attract stamp duty.

Illustrative all-in cost table — 200 sq yd plot + 2,000 sq ft home

The table below uses only figures from Vidastu's published data: plot rate ₹29,250/sq yd, build tiers ₹2,200 / ₹2,800 / ₹3,600 per sq ft, and 8% fees. All figures are indicative estimates, not a guarantee. Use the NRI value projector for a personalised calculation.

Want a figure in your currency (AED, USD, GBP)? Use the NRI value projector → — it applies live FX rates and lets you adjust plot size, build area and tier.

What "turnkey" actually means — and what it does not

The term "turnkey" means different things to different builders. Here is exactly what Vidastu's turnkey scope covers, stage by stage, and what sits outside it.

Included in Vidastu's turnkey scope

1. Design. In-house architectural, structural and MEP (mechanical-electrical-plumbing) design. You review and approve drawings over video calls. Vastu-compliant layout options are available. Revisions are included until the design is finalised before submission for plan sanction.
2. YEIDA building-plan sanction. Vidastu prepares and submits the building-plan approval application to YEIDA's planning department on your behalf (using your Power of Attorney if you are abroad). We track the application and respond to any YEIDA queries through to sanction. Sanction fees are part of the ~8% fees provision.
3. Structure. Full RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) framed structure — foundation design per soil test, column-beam-slab frame, brick infill walls, roof slab with waterproofing layer. Vidastu does not subcontract structural work — it is executed by Vidastu's own team under the supervision of Vidit Kaushik (BITS Pilani, Civil Engineering).
4. Finishes. Internal and external plastering, painting, flooring, tile work, false ceilings (Premium and Luxe tiers), joinery (doors, windows, grilles) and kitchen shell. The specification exactly follows the tier you select — Essential, Premium or Luxe — with no substitutions without your written approval.
5. MEP installation. Complete plumbing (water supply, sanitary, drainage), electrical wiring (concealed in conduit for Premium/Luxe), earthing, switchboards, light fixtures, bathroom fittings and sanitary ware. Overhead water tank and underground sump are included.
6. Handover. Final snagging walk-through (via video call with a site representative walking through with you), defects list addressed before handover, and handover documentation. A 12-month defect liability period applies post-handover.

Not included (separate cost or separate contract)

• Boundary wall and main gate: Typically ₹3–6 lakh for a 200 sq yd plot, quoted separately.
• Driveway and external landscaping: Quoted separately; cost depends on area and surface type.
• Furniture, curtains, appliances: Not part of the construction contract.
• Interior design / modular kitchen cabinet bodies: Luxe tier includes a kitchen shell and essential joinery; full modular kitchen and interior design are available as an add-on.
• Generator / solar / inverter: Available as an add-on at cost; not in the base scope.
• GST on construction services: 18% GST may apply to builder services depending on contract structure. Confirm with your CA.

The 10–16 month build timeline — what happens when

Phase-by-phase breakdown

1. Design and drawings (4–6 weeks). Architectural plan, floor plan, elevation, structural drawings and MEP schematic prepared. Shared with you over video call for review and approval. Vastu consultation included. Revisions agreed before submission.
2. YEIDA building-plan sanction (4–10 weeks). Application submitted to YEIDA's planning wing. Timeline varies by workload at the planning office; Vidastu tracks and follows up. This is the most schedule-variable phase — bureaucratic queues can extend the window.
3. Foundation and substructure (6–8 weeks). Soil investigation, foundation layout, PCC, footing excavation and concreting, plinth beam. First WhatsApp video update at layout stage, second at plinth completion.
4. Superstructure — columns, beams, slabs (10–14 weeks). Ground floor columns and beams, ground-floor slab pour, first-floor repeat, roof slab. A video update is shared at each slab pour — the key milestones most NRI clients track closely.
5. Brickwork, plumbing and electrical roughing (6–8 weeks). Brick infill walls, concealed plumbing and electrical conduit laid before plastering. If you want to inspect the conduit runs, this is the moment — we schedule a walkthrough video specifically for this stage.
6. Plastering, waterproofing and finishes (8–12 weeks). Internal and external plaster, bathroom tile, floor tile, painting, false ceiling, joinery. Progress photos or videos shared weekly. Finish selections confirmed before this stage begins.
7. MEP fixtures, final works and snagging (3–4 weeks). Fitting of sanitary ware, electrical fixtures, switchboards. Snagging list compiled via a full video walkthrough with you participating in real time. Defects corrected before handover.

WhatsApp video updates — the NRI guarantee

Because you are building remotely, Vidastu commits to weekly WhatsApp video updates from site throughout the construction cycle. The site supervisor walks through the active work area with their phone — you see the slab being poured, the tile being laid, the paint being applied, exactly as it happens. You can ask questions in the chat at any time. This is not a promise of a polished video production — it is a raw, honest site walk so you can see what is happening with your money.

Funding the build from abroad — FEMA basics

Which account to use — a quick guide

• NRE account (Non-Resident External): Funded from foreign earnings, fully repatriable — both principal and interest. Preferred if you may want to repatriate sale proceeds later. No TDS on interest.
• NRO account (Non-Resident Ordinary): Funded from India-source income or from abroad. Repatriation capped at USD 1 million per financial year (after tax). TDS applies on interest. Acceptable for property purchase and construction payments.
• FCNR account (Foreign Currency Non-Resident): Term deposit in foreign currency, treated like NRE for repatriation purposes.

Plot purchase and construction milestone payments are made from your NRE or NRO account by NEFT/RTGS in INR — no cash, no foreign-currency wire direct to the builder. Vidastu issues milestone invoices against which you transfer funds.

Milestone payments — how construction is funded

Vidastu does not take lump-sum advance payments. Construction is funded in verified stages — you pay each tranche against a milestone that has been photographically or video-documented and confirmed. Typical milestones: design agreement, foundation completion, ground-floor slab, first-floor slab, roof slab, plastering complete, finishes complete, handover. This structure means your money is always at risk for only one construction stage at a time.

Why NRIs use Vidastu for the YEIDA corridor

Vidastu is a Greater Noida-based real estate developer and UP-RERA registered agent (UPRERAAGT000309/01/2026) operating in the Noida/Greater Noida market since 2012. Founder Vidit Kaushik holds a civil engineering degree from BITS Pilani; co-founder Ravi Shankar Sharma brings 30+ years of construction and Vastu experience. The firm holds a 4.8-star average across 54 Google reviews.

What makes the NRI build different

• You don't travel: Vidastu handles design review over video, plan sanction by PoA, and construction management on the ground. Most NRI clients make zero India trips during construction.
• In-house construction: Work is not subcontracted to a third-party builder — Vidastu's own team builds, under the founder's supervision. This is the single most common source of NRI construction disputes: an intermediary who subcontracts to an unknown contractor. Vidastu eliminates that layer.
• Fixed-spec tiers: The three build levels (Essential / Premium / Luxe) have documented specifications. You know exactly what you are getting before you sign. No verbal promises.
• RERA protection: For registered projects, at least 70% of buyer funds are held in a project-specific escrow account and released against verified construction milestones — as mandated by RERA Section 4(2)(l)(D).
• Vastu-compliant design: Available at no additional charge for NRI clients who want it — co-founder Ravi Shankar Sharma brings three decades of Vastu experience to the layout.

Related guides and tools

• NRI Value Projector Calculator — personalise the cost table above for your plot size, build area, tier and currency
• YEIDA Plot Scheme 2026 Guide — eligibility, the draw, sectors near Jewar and how to apply remotely
• Plot + Build — the full process: YEIDA advisory to handover
• FEMA Guide — NRE/NRO accounts, PoA, repatriation and TDS in plain English
• NRI Overview — the full picture of buying and building in India as an NRI