Will a divider on the Gurgaon Sector 17/18 road help the traffic situation?

Considered one of the busiest and most dangerous roads in Gurgaon, the Sector 17/18 dividing road is finally receiving due attention from the authorities. 

This road is a pedestrian’s nightmare. In the words of Anil Dogra, a resident of Sector 17B, “During peak hours, crossing this road can be suicide.”

gurgaon news

The severity of Dogra’s statement can be attributed to fast-moving vehicles from multiple lanes converging on this stretch. Since there is no driving discipline on these lanes, this translates to a threat for pedestrians and also increases chances of vehicular collision.

Commuters on this diving road say that the traffic congestion and chaos have worsened after 70 huge trees were felled to increase the width of the road.  

Addressing these concerns, HUDA is now busy constructing a divider on this road. “With the divider in place, at least the traffic on both sides will get equal space to move,” said Dogra. This divider shall initially measure 150 m and later be extended to 1,500 m.

The divider is expected to discipline the traffic too. In a bid to ease traffic woes, HUDA also plans to change the location of electric poles on the road. 

“There are a couple of electricity poles that are right in the middle of the road. This has happened after the felling of trees,” said a commuter.

Speaking to City Spidey, DCP Traffic, Simardeep Singh, said, “In the initial phase, the divider will measure 150 m. It shall be later extended depending upon need. Also, vehicles parked on either side of this road shall be checked though an enforcement drive. This should help to solve congestion.”

Noida: After Amrapali, it is now Supertech’s turn to face a protest

The Supertech office at Noida Sector 58 will soon mirror the spectacle of the Amrapali corporate office in Sector 62. Disgruntled by issues of possession, hombuyers of Supertech Group shall go on an indefinite protest from September 2. The protest will be held under the banner of NEFOWA (Noida Extension Flat Owners Welfare Association).

According to the homebuyers, Supertech had taken advance deposits, to the tune of 80 to 90 per cent, way back in 2009-10 when bookings had started. After that, there has been a series of false promises from the developer regarding the delivery of flats. But the homebuyers are yet to receive the flats.  Noida News

Buyers are equally agitated with Noida Authority and Greater Noida Authority as both these bodies have done nothing to salvage their situation. Officials of both the authorities have conducted tripartite meetings but they said these meetings were merely an eye wash. noida local news

Abhishek Kumar, president of NEFOWA, told City Spidey that this protest shall continue until the demands are met. “We are demanding the exact date of possession. And we also demand registry of the flats,” he informed. apartment management software

Kumar also said NEFOWA shall approach all buyers of Supertech in Noida and Greater Noida. “Hundreds of buyers shall participate in the protest,” he stated.

In Gautam Budh Nagar, Supertech has 10 projects, which have apparently been stalled due to the builder's financial crunch. More than 10,000 flat buyers of Supertech Capetown, North Eye, Eco Village 1, 2, 3, 4 and other projects have been suffering for years now.

What's Clause 5? Why do Amrapali Zodiac residents want it imposed?

A delegation of residents from Amrapali Zodiac, a residential society in Sector 120, Noida, on Wednesday met a committee of ministers at Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority's board room and demanded the implementation of clause 5 of the lease agreement between the builder and the land-owning agency. Residents said they were not satisfied with the maintenance provided by the builder.   

The clause, which is mentioned on page 14 of the lease agreement, states that in case a developer is unable to provide satisfactory maintenance service to residents of a particular society, the development authority that had allotted the land to the developer will take over the society's maintenance. 

Noida News

In a letter, residents complained that the common facilities of the society were not being maintained by the builder and that had been a major inconvenience to them. Residents said they had tried to solve the problem but the builder had failed to show any improvement. 

An ex-army officer, Colonel RP Khanna, who had booked a flat in the society and still awaiting possession, said they had apprised the ministers’ committee that Noida Authority, the land owner, should take over the society's maintenance immediately.  apartment management software

Jogindra Singh, another flat buyer and resident of the society, said, “Most of our problems will be solved if the Authority takes over the society's maintenance as per Clause 5. We have consistently been complaining about the society's poor upkeep. But the builder has not paid any heed to them. Today, we had opportunity to convey our grievance to the ministers. We requested them to pass on our message to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and explaining him that enforcement of Clause 5 is a must for solving our problems,” he added. 

Thank god it's fogging time in Dwarka

Although this year there has been hardly any cases of dengue and chikungunya, municipal officials of Dwarka are not taking any chances. Zealous ward councillors and sanitation officials of the sub-city have embarked upon a fogging drive to prevent mosquito breeding. Residential pockets of DDA, markets, CGHS societies, institutions and other places have already been fogged.

Mayor of SDMC and a resident of Sector 6, Kamaljeet Sehrawat, said, “Fogging has started from mid-August in all the areas under SDMC. This shall continue till September when the temperature dips to a level that is non-conducive for breeding of flies and mosquitoes. People are welcome to contact my office directly if they want their areas and societies fogged. My office number is 092126 11248 and the person in charge is Rajpal.” Dwarka News

Residents of the sub city and RWAs are relieved to see their areas being fogged. SS Chowhan, president of Radhika Apartments, Sector 14, said, “This year the number of cases of dengue and chikungunya is fewer as compared to last year. However, as a precautionary measure we had requested MCD to fog our society. They readily complied and have promised to repeat the process every week until September.” Dwarka Local News

Akash Ganga Apartments, which was fogged about 10 days back, is planning to approach SDMC for another round next week. President of the society, Maj JC Vashisht, said, “We want at least two more rounds of fogging. This year, till now there has been no case of dengue or chikungunya in our society. We definitely don’t want any cases to occur in the last phase of this season for vector-borne diseases.”

However, AS Chatwal, RWA secretary from Sector 8, has reported some cases of dengue and chikungunya in his area and emphasised the need for proper fogging. rwa management software

Date for Gurgaon municipal elections is out!

The date for the much-awaited municipal elections for Gurgaon has today been announced by the Haryana election commissioner. It has been scheduled for September 24.

With the election date finalised, candidates will now be seen preparing for the event. The period for presentation papers will remain between September 8 and September 13; and candidates will be required to furnish mandatory information in a prescribed form to the returning officer by September 14. The election commission will publish the list of candidates and issue them symbols on September 15. Gurgaon News

For carrying out peaceful elections, a heavy police force will be deployed not only at the polling stations but also in politically sensitive areas. Gurgaon Local News

The amount for contesting the elections has been fixed at Rs 2 lakh and the expenses capped at Rs 5 lakh. Candidates are to maintain a report on their expenditure during the campaign, to be submitted within 30 days of the date of declaration of the election results. apartment management software

Voters will have the option to choose NOTA, or None of the Above, and can be assured of complete secrecy. Dr Dalip Singh appealed to voters to participate in the elections to strengthen the democracy at the grass-roots level.

Raj Kumar Yadav, from Sector 46, who is contesting the elections, said, “The public should be careful while casting their votes and should ensure their decision is purely on the basis of the work done by the candidate and not the caste.”

UP ministers met Gzb buyers and builders today. Are things finally looking up?

It was a day of hope for Ghaziabad homebuyers. Homebuyers from across the city today poured their hearts out to the ministerial committee set up by the UP government at a meeting held in the Ghaziabad Development Authority office. The three-member ministerial committee led by Suresh Khanna, urban development minister, included cabinet ministers Satish Mahana and Suresh Rana.

Separate meetings were held with buyers and builders. The meeting with buyers saw representatives from over a dozen residential projects. Although about 30 builders were summoned, eight, including Amrapali, Ansal Housing and Value Infra, decided to skip the meeting. Ghaziabad News

The absent builders have been asked to present themselves in front of the committee tomorrow or face the heat. Calling them out as callous for their absence, the committee said there would be dire consequences for them, including the lodging of FIRs against them. Ghaziabad Local News

Speaking to City Spidey, Madhu Kesri, a buyer from Parsvnath Regalia on GT Road, said despite several years of waiting and paying most of the flat’s total price, she still had to live in rented acommodation. Ironically, Kesri decided to rent a flat in the very society in which she purchased a flat. “Since I have to stay in Ghaziabad, I chose to stay in this very society so I can keep an eye on the development of my flat,” she said. “But the flat is far from ready; and what’s worse, since I don’t have possession of my flat yet, people here treat me like a tenant and I am unable to enjoy a flat owner’s rights.” apartment management software

A livid Uma Agarwal, who had booked a plot with Ansals Housing in 2012, says she was assured delivery in 2013, but despite paying around Rs 22 lakh, she has not received a response from the builder. “Every time I approach their office, there’s no one there to address my issues,” Agarwal said. Minister Suresh Khanna asked her to lodge an FIR, and assured her of action thereafter.

Ajay Walia from Meadows Vista in Rajnagar Extension said that their builder, Value Infra, had only partially completed the society. “The builder is absconding and he has stopped all work at the site. There have even been cases in which one flat has been sold to multiple buyers!” Walia said. rwa management software

In case of certain projects, residents and buyers at the meeting also offered to construct and complete the stalled projects at their own cost, provided GDA relaxed the project’s pending dues.

Representatives of flat owners, such as FedAOA, also raised the demand for the immediate formation of the Real Estate Authority in the state, so erring builders could be brought to task. Alok Kumar, president of FedAOA, asked the ministers to bring back the undiluted version of the Real Estate Regulatory Act and implement it at the state level. "The RERA website is up in UP, but it is such a sham! It addresses no issues of homebuyers," he added. society management software

The meeting with buyers was followed by a meeting with builders. The ministers issued deadlines to the builders and asked them to complete their projects in due time or face the state’s heat. The committee also issued strict orders to GDA officials to expedite solutions in homebuyer cases and not leave them hanging. visitor management software

Speaking to City Spidey, residents and AOA heads maintained that the meeting brought out a very different attitude in the builders and GDA officials. “People who would earlier turn a deaf ear to our problems sat patiently listening to everything we had to say. I hope such meetings happen regularly,” said Alok Kumar.

And indeed, the ministers assured homebuyers of regular meetings and said they would try to solve their problems as soon as possible. “We will take measures to solve buyer issues. We have various alternative measures to check the problem. The committee will ensure justice is done,” said Suresh Khanna.

It's Chinatown in Gurgaon!

It is said that wherever the Chinese go, they set up a Chinatown. While Gurgaon still does not have one that can match Kolkata’s, it is witnessing a surge in the number of Chinese expats.

Take any weekday at MG Road Metro station between 9 am and 10.30 am, and move towards Times Tower. Inside the lift area of the Times Tower, you will find only Chinese expats going briskly about their business. No, all of them are not Chinese; some are Japanese expats too. Gurgaon News

“This building has offices of some of the better known Chinese companies such as Oppo Mobile, UC Browser, a media arm of Ali Baba and Japanese Steel Works Ltd,” says Ven Chen, who works for Oppo Mobile. Gurgaon Local News

However, the real Chinese population can be seen at Cyber City, which also houses the Huawei office. Says Stephen Chen, who works for the brand, "It is so nice to see so many of us here in Gurgaon." Huawei operates from Spaze Techpark building in Sector 49 on South Sohna Road. More than 300 Chinese expats work there. Perhaps no other Chinese company in Gurgaon has so many expats. Gurgaon Society News

It is perhaps true that as the number of Chinese expats is going up, Chinese restaurants, too, are mushrooming in the city. The Monk, Yum Yum Cha, Mama Goto and Kitchen District are some of the better known Chinese restaurants in Gurgaon offering authentic Chinese food.

Adam Wen Chen, who is the life and soul of UC Browser in India, says, “Gurgaon is a lively and lovely place. I like it here.” apartment management software

There are close to 3,000 Chinese expats in Gurgaon alone – and there are more women than men. Almost all of them are single and live in areas such as Palam Vihar, DLF, South City and Sushant Lok. Some also commute from South Delhi. rwa management software

Says J Nipun, who has a Chinese tenant, “My tenant, who works for a Chinese telecom company, is a very nice guy. I have rented out my DLF flat to him and his wife.” Nipun is among those who prefer Chinese tenants, as they are not party animals and go for outings only on weekends. And for Gurgaon-based Chinese expats, weekends are reserved for buying household stuff from MGF Mall, DLF Mega Mall and Ambience Mall.society management software

And even while India and China were on a collision course recently over Doklam, the Gurgaon-based Chinese expats were neither bothered, nor disturbed.

Noida: Will the CM appointed high-power committee take action against Amrapali?

Protesting homebuyers of the Amrapali Group who had sought the intervention of a high-power committee of ministers formed by UP CM, Yogi Adityanath have been assured a speedy redressal on Wednesday.     

In the course of a meeting, this three member committee headed by Suresh Khanna, minister of urban development, state of UP, meticulously heard all the grievances of the buyers. In the words of a buyer, Jogindra Singh, “In a bid to ensure that most of our problems are resolved, the committee has assured us that it will initiate action against the builder within 24 hours. Hence we are returning with the expectation that they will stick to their words.” Noida Local News

Incidentally, the committee is on a two day visit to the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida with the singular objective of holding meetings with various officers and buyers to understand the real issues that have caused the massive possession delays.     Noida Society News

These meetings were also attended by buyers of other private housing projects and the ministers have noted all the demands that were placed before them. 

Speaking to City Spidey, K K Kaushal, another buyer reiterated the fact that the indefinite hunger strike against Amrapali has crossed twenty days now. All buyers of Amrapali’s residential projects are protesting under a common banner. Noida News

Kaushal informs, “We have given our demands to the committee and they have assured us that they will extend all support to ensure that every buyer receives the possession of his/her flat.” Turning a shade apprehensive, he adds, “Despite this assurance we shall continue our strike till the time that we are convinced that our homes will be delivered within a stipulated time frame.” rwa management software

Noida Extension Flats Owners Main Association (NEFOMA), a group of home-buyers representing various housing projects has also submitted a memorandum of demands to the committee. apartment management software

Annu Khan, president of the association said, “We have suggested a meeting of authorities, builders and bank representatives where the mandate should be to investigate why and how all the money of the defaulting builders has disappeared. This should be a first step in redressal as most of the builders have been claiming that they do not have sufficient funds to complete the pending projects.”

Why driving and parking at Suncity Gurgaon is a rough deal...

Illegal constructions that have been mushrooming on 60-yard plots in the Suncity residential sector, one of Gurgaon’s posh addresses, are fast becoming a viable rental option for young people who work in this city. Consequently, the vehicles in the area have increased.

The RWA has apprised the authorities that driving and parking have both become an ordeal for the residents of Suncity Apartments, owing to the encroachment of parking spaces by tenants, who reside in the multiple floors that have been illegally constructed over these plots. However, no action has been taken yet. Gurgaon News

Incidentally, more than 50 plots have built four to five floors and this has resulted in a massive chaos in terms of vehicles. Just this Monday, a school bus carrying children to school was stuck for over 45 minutes in a jam. Gurgaon Local News

The society lanes are 18 metres wide, and after cars are parked on either side, there is passage only for a single car.

“The parked cars have encroached the road. There was no passage for the bus to move. We called the police, but they seemed helpless. My son was in this bus and got delayed for his exams that day. Tomorrow, this situation could be faced by an ambulance,” said Sanjay Aggarwal, a resident of Block B. apartment management software

Talking about the illegal constructions, a resident of Suncity said, “There are multiple floors, with multiple rooms on each floor. This is easy money for the property owner, who could not care less about the residents. Apart from parking issues, it has also increased the load on our water and electricity supply. We have written to the CM and want speedy action on this.” rwa management software

Talking to City Spidey, Rajender Sharma, district transport officer (enforcement), said, “We have completed the survey and have asked DTP planning for the building plan. This plan will help to ascertain the violation on the basis of which we shall issue a notice hopefully within the next four to five days.” 

Gurgaon: Aura society weaves a social message into Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations

How did the Aura society in Sector 110A, Gurgaon, celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, spanning across three days? By celebrating the idea of “no food wastage”.

The three days were packed with numerous events, keeping the entire society on its toes. After almost a month of planning, Lord Ganesha received the warmest of welcomes — to the reverberating beats of the dhol and the matching steps of the residents.

The days were packed with events and excitement — a magic show, food and game stalls, rangoli and mehendi competitions, a talent hunt and, of course, a cook-off.

Twenty volunteers from Aura worked day and night to make the whole thing a success.

But the high point of the celebrations? Rwa management software

Residents were shown how to reduce food wastage. They were shown videos on the theme. A motivational speech from nutritionist and diabetes educator Niti Munjal was also organised.

“It was an effort from our end to bring the residents together and also encourage them to stop wasting food. I feel if everyone takes a small step, we can make a good difference to the world,” explained Yashesh Yadav, a resident.

Capping it all, visarjan, too, was done in an eco-friendly manner. The idol was immersed in a small tank within the society, and the same water will be used to water the plants inside the complex.

Dwarka: What was the MCD thinking when constructing this dhalao near a school?

Residents and managements of several residential societies in Dwarka's Sector 6, have united to protest against the construction of a dhalao (garbage pit). The reason is simple - this dhalao is in close proximity of a government school and Surya Apartments, a residential complex in the sector.Dwarka News

People are writing letters to South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and organising demonstrations at the site. Recently a protest was organised, wherein banners and posters reiterated the urgency of shifting the site of construction.  Dwarka Local News

In the words of Amod Poddar, a resident of Surya Apartments, “We shall be the worst sufferers if this dhalao is constructed. The residents of Surya Apartments have collectively handed over a letter requesting the authorities to stop construction activities. Since the neighbouring government school is also affected, we have met its principal, Rita Mishra, and requested her to make a formal complaint to the concerned authorities. She has assured us of her support.”

Residents are saying that the dhalao will be a nuisance, as it will give off a stench and lead to the breeding of flies and mosquitoes.

The president of Diamond Square Apartments, Satish Mishra, said, “The location of this dhalao is detrimental to the health and hygiene of the schoolchildren and the residents. SDMC should have considered all the repercussions before starting construction. Moreover, when heavy trucks frequent the site for lifting and dumping garbage, there will be the danger of accidents. We want SDMC to shift it to another place far from all residential areas.”

The construction is on in full swing and the ground has been dug up. The entire area now sports posters and banners outlining the concerns and demands of the protesters. A passionate environment activist of the sub-city and a resident of Youngster Apartments in Sector 6 (located within 100 m of the dhalao), SK Malik, told City Spidey, “At present dhalaos are required for all the sectors of Dwarka. However, the location of this particular dhalao is highly objectionable. After all, it is close to a school with a strength of 3,000 or more students. Also, the building adjacent to it is meant to house BSES transformers. This might result in a fire hazard.”  

Malik further says, “In the long run, SDMC should educate and train society on garbage composting techniques. If this is achieved, dhalaos will be a thing of the past. And subsequently issues of bad odour and hygiene will be permanently solved.”

Speaking on the subject, Madhuri Varshney, Coordinator, school managing committee, Matiala Assembly, rues, “All the dhalaos in Dwarka are generally made along the drains for the convenience of people. Then why is this dhalao in front of a school? Who has proposed this site and on what parameters has it been chosen? I think MCD should reconsider the subject and focus more on solutions for promoting cleanliness at the ground level. If the right strategy is implemented, no dhalaos shall be needed.”

Kamaljeet Sehrawat, mayor of SDMC and councillor of the ward, responds by saying, “I am open to talking and discussing the issue. Residents can meet me and suggest an alternative location. We would shift the dhalao as per their suggestions.”

Three condominiums on MG Road join hands to solve common issues

In a bid to solve the common problems faced by condominiums on Gurgaon’s MG Road, the RWA heads of three residential societies have come together to devise a common action plan. The RWAs represent three flagship condominiums - Essel Tower, Heritage City and Sahara Grace. rwa management software

Though MG Road is one of the most popular and posh destinations in Gurgaon, the condominiums located here have their own set of issues. In the late evening hours, one can often see sex workers on the stretch that houses these condominiums. Moreover, encroachment by hawkers, traffic congestion and lack of green belts are other glaring concerns.  Gurgaon News

“We do not have organised parking on the service lanes. Hence people park their vehicles haphazardly. I am a resident of Heritage City and sometimes getting out of the condominium is a hassle, with taxis and autos parked in a disorganised manner,” said Simmi Harding. Gurgaon Local News

The RWAs have decided to highlight all the issues to the authorities and engage them in finding solutions. They have incidentally placed an overriding importance on the possibility of deploying marshals in these condominiums that will ward off these issues.  Gurgaon Society News

“Counting all three condominiums, we are almost 2,600 residents with similar objectives. Our issues will get addressed in an organised manner, with all of us working in solidarity,” said Narender Bhaskar, a resident of Essel Tower.

Adding to this, Rajeev Sinha, RWA president of Essel Tower, said, “The hawkers have occupied a long stretch here and have been a constant nuisance to residents. There is no place for pedestrians to walk - even walking to nearby malls is a constant challenge.” Apartment management software

Speaking to City Spidey, Deepak Saharan, DCP (West), said, “We are trying to provide solutions for the issues faced on this road. For the safety and security of residents, we have also installed a police booth outside the City Centre Mall. Women police, too, have been deployed.”  

Residents of Sunworld Vanalika are living in unregistered flats. Find out why

Residents of Sunworld Vanalika, a residential society in Sector 107, Noida, are unable to get the registry of their flats done, as the builder is yet to clear its land dues to Noida Authority.

The society has 12 towers, with about 1,000 flats.

The developer has failed to pay the installments to Noida Authority against land dues to the tune of Rs 36 crore. Noida Local News

Residents said the Authority provided occupancy certificates for six towers in January 2017, but the developer failed to get completion certificates — an important document for property registration.

The six towers have about 500 flats, and none of them are registered.

Atul Agarwal, a resident of Sunworld Vanalika, told City Spidey, “The builder has already applied for completion certificates for the six towers, but Noida Authority is not ready to release the certificates because of the dues.” Noida News

Santosh Kumar, officer on special duty (OSD), group housing department of Noida Authority, told City Spidey, “We have spoken to the developer. According to our new policy, we have asked the developer to deposit 10 per cent of the dues, so the Authority can provide completion certificates. At the time of registry, the developer will need to submit 65 per cent of the dues for the registry of flats to happen.”

Antriksh Golf View, Noida: Youth found dead in PG accommodation

A 27-year-old software engineer's body was found in a flat in Antriksh Golf View, a residential society in Sector 78, Noida, yesterday morning.

The victim has been identified as Pratap Rao. He was living as a paying guest in Flat No H-403 with seven other flatmates for the past six months. Noida Society News

He hailed from Betul district of Madhya Pradesh.

The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained, informed the police. The cops found four or five empty beer bottles in his room. Noida Local News

The family members of the deceased have been informed about the incident.

Kishore Kumar, a flat mate, said, “In the morning when Pratap did not come out of his room, we started knocking on his door. But when Pratap did not reply, we forced open the door and found him on his bed.” Noida News

Parshuram, station officer of Sector 49 police station, told City Spidey, “Excess consumption of alcohol could be the reason for his death. The police have sent the body for post mortem, and the report is awaited.”

He added that the police will make a final conclusion only after the report arrives.

Presidium parents determined to lodge FIR against school for TCs

Parents of children studying in Presidium School, Indirapuram, today met the SSP with a demand to lodge an FIR against the school authorities for issuing transfer certificates, or TCs, to their wards for not paying annual and development charges. The school had, over the past few months, issued TCs to 34 students. Indirapuram News

In a recent letter, Raj Singh Yadav, District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), Ghaziabad, told the school that issuing TCs in the middle of the academic year went against student welfare. He also asked the school to reconsider the decision and hold a meeting with parents to sort out the issue, and also to submit a report to the DIOS’ office to facilitate further action. Indirapuram Local News

However, following today’s meeting, the SSP redirected the matter to the Indirapuram police station, and parents once again reached the station with a demand for an FIR. A meeting was held between the police, the agitated parents and representatives of the school. Although the police suggested that the matter be solved by mutual agreement, parents maintained that nothing would come of any such meeting if they did not pay up. Neighbourhood News

“The school is arm twisting us into paying the annual and development charges. The management told us that it would only let the kids resume school if the charged are paid,” said a parent.

Speaking to City Spidey, Smriti Nanda, zonal head, Presidium, said that the school had made no change in its stance regarding the TCs. “The TCs will be revoked only if the parents pay up. This money is required to run the school,” she said. Apartment management software

However, the parents have planned to meet the SSP again tomorrow. They had also planned a protest and a sit-in against the school but they had to be cancelled due to the imposition of Section 144 in the city due to the Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh conviction

GreNo: When the authorities don't act, the residents just have to step up

On August 24 residents of Vidya Vihar colony in Dadri, barely 15 km from Greater Noida, challenge five suspects during a night round of their colony. They nab three while two escape in the darkness. The residents had started a night watch after a house in the colony was burgled. On the same day Hapur resident Vinesh Kumar and his companion catch a pickpocket red-handed on a bus in Dadri. On August 23, Gaurav, a resident of Ghodi village, and his companions nab thieves breaking the lock of his racing bike in the parking of Alpha commercial belt. On August 22, residents of Delta 1, a sector in Greater Noida, catch a bootlegger and hand him over to policemen from Surajpur police station. On August 20, Hemant Kaushik, with another resident of Sector Xu 2, question a couple of suspects loitering in the sector. One suspect escapes and the other one, as it turns out, was carrying burglary tools in his bag.

Five days and over eight thieves caught!

Residents of Greater Noida and Dadri, two sub-divisions of Gautam Buddh Nagar, have taken up the task of catching thieves on their own, because the police are not effective enough — nor are they present in enough numbers. Greater Noida News

Superintendent of Police (rural) Suniti Singh says the number of policemen deployed in rural parts of Gautam Buddh Nagar is fewer than 800. They are not only supposed to man 13 police stations but are also required to do rounds in the PCR (police control room) vans. Additionally, they are to make sure traffic is smooth at Pari Chowk and other congested roundabouts of the district. Some of them are deployed for clerical work at police stations, at the SP’s office and for security duties. Apartment management software

So about 600 policemen are supposed to provide security to 2,11,000 people (2011 census – the number is expected to have doubled or tripled since). No wonder, then, that residents are left to fend for themselves.

Hemant Kaushik and M Kumar, two vigilantes, came across the two thieves in Sector Xu 2 during one such round. “We encountered the suspects outside a shop at a trisection in the sector. When we started questioning them, one of them one ran away. A check of the other’s bag threw up theft tools and burgled water taps,” Kaushik recollects.

In Sector Xu 2 — where more than 200 families reside and where about 600 villas lie empty — every second house has been burgled. Every time there’s a theft, an FIR is lodged and the police do a routine inspection of the crime scene before closing the file.

Greater Noida Authority, which is supposed to provide security to sectors it constructed, makes guards available for the gates of a sector. But the boundary walls constructed around the sectors are not too high — leaving enough scope for the criminals to breach them.

What is true of Xu 2 is also true of most sectors in Greater Noida. Almost all residents have covered their front and rear balconies with iron or steel grilles.

And yet, the thieves strike with impunity!

Will the authorities step up? When?

A girl has lost her life, but the danger of open wires in Ggn still looms large

While a young girl has lost her life, six other children have sustained severe burn injuries in a fire that was caused by an electrical short circuit in Gurgaon’s Sector 56. This incident has alarmed the entire sector about the repercussions of low-lying electric wires.

The people of Palam Vihar’s sectors 22 and 23 are a particularly worried lot now, as these sectors have been contending with drooping wires from electric poles for quite some time.  Gurgaon News

According to the residents of Palam Vihar, DHVBN has been apprised of the danger. However, they have not taken any remedial measures. Incidentally, electric wires in both these sectors of Palam Vihar are just four to five feet above ground level. Gurgaon Society News

“This is a dangerous height, as children who play on the streets can easily come into contact with open wires. In fact, even adults can brush past these low-hanging wires,” said a resident.    

The transformers, too, are dilapidated. “Moreover, the wires are open, and with the monsoons the chances of short circuit increases,” said Ajay Mehra, a resident of Sector 22. Gurgaon Local News

Commuters in sectors 22 and 23 of Palam Vihar also have to face the danger of wires that are tied to poles. Furthermore, the transformers that have undergone repair work are lying open.

“It is not possible to keep cautioning our children constantly. If the wires are at a height they can access, dangers are always just a touch away,” said Kritika Luthra, a resident of Sector 23.

City Spidey approached DHVBN about the issue. KC Aggarwal, SE (superintending engineer), said, “There is no such issue reported from Palam Vihar. If the residents allege they have complained before, they should show us proof that we have received their complaints. In case an issue is reported, we shall definitely take it up.” 

UP Police to tighten traffic rules

Driving in wrong lanes without helmets or seat belts, though dangerous, is a common scene on roads and narrow lanes in Noida. But commuters may now have to change these habits, as the UP police has decided to enforce the norms more strictly.

It has come up with a different plan of action to bring down the number of mishaps and deaths on the road. For its implementation, it has started sending letters to housing societies, directing them to sensitise residents against violations of traffic rules. It has ordered them to put up a signboard prescribing important driving rules at the entry or exit gates of societies.

Noida Society News

Through the letter, Anil Jha, SP Traffic, Noida, said that societies were being directed to ban the entry of riders without helmets or cars whose passengers are without seat belts. To stop under-age driving, societies should not allow those below the age limit to exit with bikes and cars if they are in an inebriated state. 

Noida Local News

City cops have also sought access to footage of CCTV cameras installed in societies to initiate legal action against offenders. They added that societies are places from where residents begin their commute — if they follow the rules, the number of accidents will automatically come down.

The CCTV footage will be examined frequently, and legal action will be taken against those found flouting traffic rules.

The letter reads that of the 960 accidents reported in 2016, 422 commuters lost their lives on roads. Most of them were young people, who didn’t care for safe driving. The rate of deaths in road accidents is, therefore, high in the district.    

Noida: Residents complain about suboptimal fogging by authorities

The monsoon rains in the course of the last two months have caused frequent episodes of water logging across Delhi NCR. And in Noida, where people allege that fogging drives have been fairly few and far between, several waterlogged sites have turned into convenient spots for mosquito breeding. Consequently, people are contracting water borne diseases like chikungunya, malaria, dengue and others.

The Chief Medical Officer’s office has confirmed 80 cases of malaria, 55 cases of swine flu and two cases of dengue in GB Nagar alone. Delhi Ncr News

Speaking to City Spidey, Anurag Bhargava, Chief Medical Officer of Gautam Budh Nagar, said, “Fogging is conducted by the health department of the city. Also we take help from the Noida Authority and utilise their machines in our fogging drives. These drives are undertaken on a daily basis.”

Bhargava informs that the health department has two big fogging machines which are supplemented by 20 fogging machines of the Noida Authority. Of these machines, six are big and fourteen are small.

“To avert the spread of water borne diseases, the health department has conducted an inspection of more than 300 houses, private hospitals, residential sectors and societies. Even industrial sectors are being inspected,” he added.

The health department officials emphasise that the fog should reach the inside of houses as the vectors are born in stagnant water lying in coolers, air conditioners, pots, ornamental plants, fountains, water tanks and bird feeders. Delhi Local News

Residents of Noida, however are not happy with the quantum of fogging drives. Moreover, they feel that the Noida Authority has not taken sufficient steps to prevent mosquito breeding at open drains, potholes and low-lying areas. They say that some areas have not had a single fogging drive this season. They also rue that usually a worker appointed by the authorities carries out fogging on a bicycle or rickshaw, which obviously falls short of expectations.

Conversely, when City Spidey contacted SK Gupta, project engineer of Noida Authority, he assured that fogging is being carried out in every sector. “Security guards of the sectors and officials of the health department oversee the entire process,” he added.

Incidentally, conscientious RWA’s of some sectors like 19 and 27 have bought hand operated fogging machines to step up prevention efforts against the spread of chikungunya and dengue.

Rajeev Garg, RWA Secretary of Noida Sector 27 states that the fogging conducted by the authorities has not been effective. He further shares that last year every house is Sector 27 had a victim of chikungunya or other water borne diseases. However, this year the number of cases has been lower. “This is because we are fogging the sector every day for an hour with our own machine,” Garg adds. 

Noida Authority starts a pruning drive

Finally giving in to the longstanding demand of RWAs, Noida Authority has, at last, started a drive to prune trees and cut grass across parks in the city.

According to officials, every day five residential sectors will be taken up for pruning.

Omvir Singh, director of horticulture, Noida Authority, told City Spidey, “So far, they have finished work in 25 sectors. The drive began from August 23 — and will continue until August 31. Work will start again sometime in September. We will be doing 45 sectors in all.”

Work in progress at Sector 34

He also added that each sector had been allotted 50 workers, and every day 250 workers are on the job.

Today, the drive was conducted in sectors 19, 22, 35, 37 and 82. Noida News

Ramesh Shekhar, RWA joint secretary of Sector 22, Noida, said, “After three years, Noida Authority is pruning the trees of this sector. But the authority is pruning trees only of the areas surrounding the sector, but not within the sectors. Pruning of trees should also happen where the wires are passing between branches — but they are not doing so at the moment.”

No prepaid meters for Crossings Republik, but will that solve the issue?

Much to the relief of people dwelling in Crossings Republik, the electricity department of Ghaziabad has ordered Crossings Infrastructure Private Limited (CIPL), the developer of the township, to discontinue the use of prepaid electricity meters.

Residents have alleged that the builder was charging inflated bills, which included both the electricity and the maintenance charges of the society, via this prepaid device. The department’s order came specifically in response to a complaint lodged by Vinay Khandelwal, a resident of Supertech Livingston in Crossings Republik. Ghaziabad News

Speaking to City Spidey, residents maintained that the problem had been persisting through several years, as the builder did not provide a proper breakdown of the bill. Consequently, the bills did not provide sufficient information regarding the separate heads against which the money was being charged. Ghaziabad Local News

Vinay Khandelwal, the complainant, told City Spidey, “I have been running between the district administration and the electricity department to get the problem solved. Finally, after several months of running around, the executive engineer of the electricity department issued the order to CIPL.” Apartment management software

However, residents are sceptical about this order offering any permanent solution. “Many such orders and letters have been issued in the past, but we have not come across any significant change. At times, the developer doesn’t even care to respond,” said Kuldeep Dubey, a resident.

Speaking to City Spidey, Ishwar Tyagi, CEO of CIPL, said that although they had not yet received any letter from the electricity department, they were aware of the issue. “We have called a meeting with the management of the Supertech Livingston society tomorrow, and the issues will be discussed there,” Tyagi added. Apartment management system

When confronted with the question of why CIPL was continuing the practice of combining electricity and maintenance charges via prepaid electricity meters, Tyagi said this was prevalent in most of the city's high-rises.

Speaking to City Spidey, PK Agarwal, executive engineer of the electricity department, said that giving a clear breakdown of the bill would solve most of the problems. Society management system

“The breakdown will include various heads such as maintenance charges and electricity charges, and the cost incurred against them. I have also asked for the billing details from the builder,” Agarwal added.