In a decisive response to the tragic death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, whose car plunged into a water-filled construction trench in Sector 150, the Noida Authority has announced a comprehensive citywide initiative focused on road repairs and traffic safety enhancements. The authority has identified a staggering 65 road safety black spots across the city where basic safeguards are conspicuously absent, putting countless lives at risk daily.
Immediate Action on Hazardous Sites
Officials revealed that most of these identified locations are linked to private developers and critically lack essential safety features. These include proper barricades, warning signage, reflectors, and even fundamental road design elements. A detailed survey has classified these areas as both major and minor vulnerable points, requiring urgent intervention.
The authority has established strict deadlines for remediation. Sites falling under the Authority's direct responsibility must be rectified within one week. Meanwhile, locations linked to private properties or agencies are set to be secured on a priority basis by February 20, following the issuance of formal notices to the concerned parties. Officials have warned that non-compliance will attract heavy penalties, signaling a no-tolerance approach to negligence.
Chronic Neglect and Abandoned Construction Pits
Across Noida, deep excavations on residential and commercial plots have remained unattended for years, creating serious safety hazards along several major roads. A recent investigative report highlighted multiple such dangerous sites in sectors 32, 85, 150, and 154. Many are located alarmingly close to busy carriageways.
These plots are characterized by steep drops, dense overgrowth, and exposed concrete columns with iron rods jutting out, yet they lack even the most basic safety measures. One particularly hazardous stretch is on Shivalik Marg near the Sector 32 metro station, where the ground drops sharply into a gorge-like pit. Barricades meant to prevent accidents have collapsed, and temporary metal sheet barriers are bent or displaced, leaving wide, dangerous gaps along the road edge.
Another high-risk spot lies near the Janpath Marg roundabout, close to the Sector 85 police chowki. Here, a vacant plot remains perpetually waterlogged and choked with hyacinth and sewage, creating a hidden peril for motorists and pedestrians alike.
The Legacy of Stalled Projects in Sector 150
The situation in Sector 150 near Tata Eureka Park exemplifies systemic failure. Several construction sites were abandoned after the Authority halted approvals of revised layout plans in 2021. This decision followed a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report that flagged irregularities. Since then, many excavated plots have remained exposed and unsecured, effectively turning into potential death traps that claimed a young life.
Comprehensive Infrastructure Overhaul Planned
With road repairs now in motion, Noida's acting CEO, Krishna Karunesh, has issued further directives. In areas where blacktop work has not been carried out in the past four to five years and where road surfaces have significantly deteriorated, estimates are to be prepared immediately. Repair work on these stretches is mandated to begin by the first week of March.
The authority is also tackling traffic flow issues. All blocked or encroached-upon left turns in the city will be identified and cleared. The civil department has been instructed to coordinate with other wings and initiate the tendering process for this work within one month.
At the remaining black spots where responsibility lies directly with the Authority, safety improvement works will be taken up without delay. These locations will be equipped on a priority basis with:
- Guardrails and protective barriers
- Clear road signage and markings
- Functional streetlights
- Other necessary infrastructure
The goal is to proactively reduce the risk of accidents rather than react to tragedies.
Addressing Manpower and Drainage Deficiencies
The review also brought manpower shortages into sharp focus. A lack of sanitary inspectors has been affecting sanitation services across the city. Consequently, the Authority has ordered the recruitment of 20 sanitary inspectors through the government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. Strict action has been promised against officials found negligent in their duties.
Drainage-related issues, highlighted as a key factor in several accidents including waterlogging, are being addressed with new urgency. Plans are underway to improve drainage systems and construct sump wells in 12 villages across Noida. Projects in a few villages are already ongoing, while the remaining proposals are under active processing.
Furthermore, in a significant move toward long-term safety, a comprehensive drainage survey of the entire city will be conducted. This survey aims to systematically identify weak points, chronic overflow zones, and persistent waterlogging hotspots. "The focus now is on identifying risks in advance rather than reacting after tragedies," a senior official emphasized, marking a potential shift in the city's approach to infrastructure management and public safety.
