New Okhla Industrial Development Authority
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| Noida | |
  Noida
|
|
| State - District(s) |
Uttar Pradesh - Gautam Buddha Nagar District |
| Coordinates | |
| Area - Elevation |
203 km² - 200 m |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Population (2001) - Density |
500,000 - 2463/km² |
| Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle |
- 201301 - +0120 - UP-16 |
| Website: http://www.noidaauthorityonline.com/ | |
New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, or NOIDA(नौएङा), is a department of the government of Uttar Pradesh in Gautam Buddha Nagar District, India. The acronym is also the name of the area (New Okhla Industrial Development Area), that is under the management of the department. NOIDA came into existence on 19th April, 1976 and celebrates 19th April as "NOIDA Day". Sanjay Gandhi set up NOIDA as part of an urbanisation thrust during the controversial Emergency period (1975-1977). The city, which was created under the UP Industrial Area Development Act, has first-class amenities and is considered to be one of the more modern suburbs of Delhi. It is also home to the NOIDA Film City.
Contents |
[edit] History
The land within the NOIDA city limits was initially under the Bulandshahar District (approx. distance 37 km), but was later transferred to the Ghaziabad district (approx. distance 16 km). Later still, NOIDA was made into a separate administrative zone as a separate district by Chief Minister, Mayawati. This decision of the Mayawati government came under review from the next government of Mulayam Singh Yadav, who reversed it in 2003, and remerged NOIDA with Ghaziabad. After a period of some 9 months, the decision was reversed yet again in 2004 and the city was once again made into a separate district. There were some allegations of political favours through low-priced land deals due to these decisions. Presently, the city is a separate district, called Gautam Budh Nagar, with its administrative HQ at SurajPur, a nearby town. However, the highest government official, the District Magistrate (DM) stays in Noida. The city falls under the NOIDA-Dadri legislative assembly seat (Vidhan Sabha) and Khurja Parliamentary seat (Lok Sabha).
[edit] Geography
The latitude and longitude of NOIDA are respectively. It is bound on the west and south-west by the river Yamuna, on the north and north-west by Delhi, on the north-east by Delhi and Ghaziabad and on the north-east, east and south-east by the river Hindon. NOIDA falls under the catchment area of Yamuna and is an old river bed of the same. The soil is sand and clay mixed (Khadar) and is suitable for growing seasonal vegetables, grains like wheat and cash crops like sugarcane. With the advent of urbanisation, mostly vegetables and fruits are now grown.
[edit] Demographics
Spread across 203.16 km², NOIDA today has a population of more than 500,000, about 50% of whom commute to Delhi daily, solely for the purpose of work. NOIDA has a large expatriate population of migrant labour from Bihar despite Uttar Pradesh itself being the largest contributor of immigrants to rest of India (census 2001). Many instances of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh living in the city have been detected, but political pressure ensures that most of these remain in the city. These elements along with other local criminal gangs and syndicates are generally held responsible for the crimes in the city.
The famous DND Flyway connecting NOIDA with Delhi runs across the river Yamuna and receives a good patronage from office-goers in the city. The road is well known among the locals as the Toll Bridge.
[edit] Economy
Lately NOIDA has become a hub for multinational firms outsourcing IT services. Many large software and BPO companies have their offices in the city, notable being Adobe Systems, TCS, Interra, AgreeYa Solutions, GlobalLogic (previously Induslogic), CSC, HCL, EXL, Birlasoft, STMicroelectronics, MtronPTI and Xansa. Many other companies have their Indian branch offices in Noida, because of the Special Economic Zone, the better, suburbian atmosphere in NOIDA and its closeness to Delhi. NOIDA also has the head office of the Software Technologies Park, in Sector 29, Ganga Shopping Complex. In industries, the famous music publishing company T-Series is based in NOIDA. NOIDA is fast emerging as a hub for automobile ancillary units, with companies like Daewoo, Escorts, Honda-SIEL and New Holland Tractors (JV of FIAT with Ford) opening up shop in the city. Of these Daewoo is currently closed. The plant has been taken over by the Tatas, but nothing concrete seems to be afoot for it.
Also the city is developing fast for new IT majors like HCL, Adobe Systems, Freescale Semiconductors and Oracle setting up and many more coming up.
There is more to NOIDA than just industries. Film city established by Sandeep Marwah situated in Sector 16A is the hub of all the major news channels and famous studios. NOIDA's proximity to Delhi, which is the political hub of the country, makes it an attractive destination for news channels. Commercial activities have also risen in the past couple of years due to a sudden spurt in malls and multiplexes.
All the development in the areas of Industry, Commerce and Trade have led NOIDA to be a model city in UP. It is a major revenue earner for the government through taxes. The NOIDA model is now being replicated across various cities in UP, with a proactive development agency working to achieve high growth rates for business, industry and commercial ventures.
NOIDA is famous for the Sector 18 market. The Centerstage Mall which has the Wave Cinema is a famous landmark. Wave stages many film premieres with popular Bollywood stars making their appearances. In December 2005, North India's largest cineplex opened in Spice Mall. It has 8 screens and a seating capacity of 1821 people, second in India to PVR in Bangalore. The old market also exists in NOIDA, called the Atta(अट्टा) Market by the locals.
[edit] Services and Institutions
Almost every sector in NOIDA and every sector constructed before 1995 has a school and hospital in it. Prominent schools in NOIDA include Cambridge School, Apeejay School, DAV School, Army Public School, Ryan International, Vishwa Bharti, Delhi Public School, Amity School, Rockwood School, Modern School (not related to Modern School, New Delhi) and many others.
NOIDA is also home to Amity University, which has two campuses located in NOIDA. The campus in Sector-44 is home to the Amity Business School and the Amity International School; whereas the larger 60-acre campus in Sector-125 is home to the Amity School of Engineering and other Amity Institutes. NOIDA has the FDDI, an institute designed to push forward the cause of the footwear and leather industry, with the availability of local talent and designs. It is also home to the AAFT, based in the film city.One of the leading engineering colleges of the UPTU, JSS Academy of Technical Education (Sector 62), is also situated in NOIDA.
NOIDA is home to many old and new hospitals. Prominent among them are Kailash Hospital and Research Center (Sector 27), Max Hospital (Sector 19), Apollo Hospital (Sector 26), Metro Heart Hospital (Sector 12), Prakash Hospital (Sector 32) and Fortis Hospital (Sector 62). The city also has the district hospital, in a fairly decrepit condition, and the ESI hospital, which is in better condition.
The VV Giri National Labour Institute is located in Sec 24. Power Finance Corporation has its training facilities in NOIDA. EDCIL (Education Development Consultants India Ltd.) is also located in the city.
[edit] Other Landmarks
Another famous landmark in the area is the War Memorial inside the Golf Course, that commemorates the 1803 Battle of Patpargunj for the control of Delhi. NOIDA was in the news during the Kargil War with Pakistan, for the war heroics of Lt. Vijayant Thapar, a local resident. NOIDA is home to many houses owned by Army Personnel, and is the largest colony in Asia for serving or retired Defence Personnel. Arun Vihar (Sectors 28, 29 & 37) and Jalvayu Vihar (Sectors 21 & 25) are the main focus areas of Defence Personnel. These have been constructed by AWHO and AFNHB respectively. A Noida Shaheed Smarak is located in Sector 37.
[edit] Sports and other infrastructure
In 2005, the city was under focus for a NOIDA Half Marathon which did not live up to its expectations and the city's maiden international exposure, the Queen's Baton Relay for the Commonwealth Games. The city currently boasts of a stadium, which is being upgraded to international standards for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, some of which are likely to take place in NOIDA. It is for this reason that NOIDA has been put on the fast track for another prestigious project, i.e. the Delhi Metro. The Metro which was slated to enter NOIDA in 2012 has now been planned for 2009, a year before the games in 2010. NOIDA will be connected to the Connaught Palace station, via the Barakhambha Road-IP Estate-Akshardham Complex link. A part of this link opened on 11th November, 2006. Work is on full swing on the rest of the stretch, in Delhi as well as NOIDA.
In 2006, the NOIDA Authority has taken up the job of widening and re-metalling of roads, a long overdue exercise. This has led to some loosening of pressure on the choked roads of the city.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Property rates, as a consequence, are on the rise in the township. Land rates which were in the Rs. 3,000-15,000/m² range till about 5 years ago have soared to Rs. 30,000-85,000/m². The NOIDA Authority came under fire recently, for their controversial decision to build the world's tallest building, thereby putting NOIDA on the world map. However, the decision was shelved, after protests from citizens through the media, as the city does not have the infrastructure to handle a 1 km tall building. NOIDA comes under seismic zone 4, which along with loose soil and sand of the Yamuna river bed, means building collapse in an earthquake situation is a distinct possibility. It was felt that the city needs to focus on improving water quality, security, traffic management and power problems before looking at grandiose projects of little real value.
In 2006, the massive sealing drive by the MCD in adjoining Delhi, has forced traders to shut shops in Delhi and move to other locations. Gurgaon and NOIDA are the favoured destinations for such people, pushing property rates, both commercial and residential, further up. In November 2006, the Sector 18 market, a prime commercial area, set a new record for land rates in the NCR region with a plot of land being sold at an astounding Rs. 650,000 per square meter, (approx $1350 per square foot), a rate that compares favourably with the highest rates of real estate across the major cities of the world including New York, Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong.
