Days after the building collapse in Delhi’s Satya Niketan area that claimed seven lives, the Noida Authority has started issuing vacate notices to 56 buildings that had been identified as dilapidated and unsafe several years ago. The action has raised concerns among residents, particularly those living in densely populated areas where many such structures continue to be occupied.
The notices are being pasted on buildings in areas including Sadarpur, Nithari, Mamura, Salarpur and Bhangel. Residents have been asked to vacate the premises and move to safer buildings. One notice issued to an Economically Weaker Section (EWS) flat owner in Sector 31 cited poor maintenance and construction beyond sanctioned plans as factors that had weakened the original structure.
The latest action has also brought attention to the Authority’s earlier identification of unsafe and unauthorised structures. Following the collapse of a six-storey building in Shahberi on July 17, 2018, which killed nine people, the Noida Authority conducted a city-wide survey. The survey identified 1,757 unauthorised structures across different categories. Of these, 56 were classified as dilapidated, while 114 were located on notified land, 261 on acquired land and 1,326 in villages.
Earlier Demolition Efforts Failed to Resolve the Issue
The Authority had undertaken demolition drives after the 2018 survey, but officials acknowledged that the efforts did not produce the desired results. Several buildings that had been identified as dilapidated at that time are among those receiving vacate notices now.
The issue has become more complicated in Noida’s urban villages, where unauthorised construction has continued despite changes to building bylaws. The revised rules allow a maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 1.8 on freehold plots and permit buildings up to 15 metres or three floors. However, the Authority said several multi-storey structures have been constructed without sanctioned building maps.
Officials said residents have generally not approached the Authority to obtain approval for building maps, adding to difficulties in regulating older structures and identifying construction that does not comply with approved plans.
Kapil Singh, senior manager at the Noida Authority, said the fresh notices were being served to protect buildings and their occupants. However, residents have questioned the manner in which the notices are being issued, arguing that immediate evacuation without an alternative arrangement creates another set of difficulties for families.
Residents Seek Rehabilitation Framework
Resident groups have called for structural audits and a more detailed rehabilitation mechanism for occupants of unsafe buildings. NEFOWA president Abhishek Kumar said the Authority did not appear to have taken the issue seriously enough and sought structural audits of older high-rise buildings.
Ranjan Tomar, president of the Noida Village Residents’ Association, also questioned the practicality of asking families to vacate their homes immediately. He called for temporary accommodation or a rehabilitation framework, particularly for children, elderly residents and economically weaker families who may not have the resources to arrange alternative housing at short notice.
The concerns reflect the challenge faced by civic authorities when unsafe structures are identified after years of occupation. While evacuation may be required where buildings pose a safety risk, residents and associations are seeking clarity on relocation, rehabilitation and the process for assessing the structural condition of individual properties.
Noida Authority Demolishes Unauthorised Building in Hajipur
Separately, the Noida Authority has resumed action against unauthorised construction by demolishing part of a five-storey commercial building in Hajipur. The demolition followed a court order clearing the way for the action.
The building stood on a 1,200-square-metre plot that had been acquired by the Authority in March 2002. The land was subsequently encroached upon and developed. Seven earthmovers were deployed for the demolition, which began at 10am on Friday. The operation was stopped around 1.30pm because of the BRICS summit, with around 20% of the structure demolished. The Authority is expected to resume the demolition drive after two days.
The Authority has also placed a board declaring the building illegal. General manager AK Arora said the action was part of the Authority’s efforts against unauthorised construction.
The demolition had earlier faced resistance from encroachers. On July 6, 2024, two individuals allegedly threatened self-immolation after pouring kerosene during opposition to the demolition. A case was subsequently registered against Chirag Nehra and Sumit Yadav under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The latest notices and demolition action indicate renewed enforcement by the Noida Authority against unsafe and unauthorised structures. At the same time, residents’ groups are seeking a process that combines enforcement with structural assessment, advance communication and rehabilitation support for families affected by evacuation orders.
