NOIDA: Noida, a destination of affordable housing and infrastructure, is keeping its fingers crossed on the return of Mulayam Singh Yadav. Will the SP chief’s policies and his need to kill Brand Mayawati seal its fate? Or will Akhilesh be a sobering influence? Residents recall how in 2004, Mulayam had dissolved the district and stalled many projects, leading to clashes.
The already troubled housing sector – plagued by faulty land acquisition policies – is dreading a setback. The fate of 200,000 flats to be built in Noida Extension now hangs by a thread. Any change of stance by the government in Supreme Court will be terrible news for builders and buyers. The farmers may renegotiate yet again.

The outlook on infrastructure projects is grim too. Yamuna Expressway is ready but with toll, speed and security undecided, it’s a non-starter. And the townships planned along the expressway may just remain on paper. The builders of the expressway, Jaiprakash Associates Ltd, must be particularly worried because of their proximity to the BSP chief.

In 2004, the SP government had disbanded the district and stalled various projects, thereby slowing down the pace of development. With the party back in power, residents of Noida and Greater Noida are in a quandary regarding the future of these projects.

“The progressive outlook of SP scion Akhilesh Yadav has made us optimistic that developmental work will continue,” said Vikram Kasana, president, Evergreen Federation of RWAs, Greater Noida. “However, given the SP’s past record, things seem bleak,” Kasana added.

Noida residents are even less upbeat about the SP storming to power. “The party had given a bad name to Noida the last time it ruled the state. Though it may claim to be back in a new avatar, we aren’t sure how things will pan out,” said N P Singh, president, Federation of Noida RWAs.

Besides the Rs 11,000-crore Yamuna Expressway project, other ambitious projects initiated by the BSP include the extension of Delhi Metro routes to Greater Noida and Noida Extension. The Metro line which is already functional till City Center in Sector 32 is to be extended till Sector 62. A 3.9 km route has been proposed between Botanical Garden in Noida and Kalindi Kunj. The cost of the Metro projects stands at Rs 11,000 crore.

In January 2010, a helipad was proposed to be constructed in Sector 128 but only the project site has been finalized till now. Work on Noida City Center – being developed on a multiple land use model across sectors 32 and 25 A – began last year after prolonged delay. The Center will boast of hospitals, banks, entertainment spaces and IT offices.

The fate of the first elevated road, which will run above the Shahdara drain, also remains uncertain. The plan was approved in May 2011. The BSP government had also given the go-ahead to Ganga water projects in Noida and Greater Noida, estimated to cost around Rs 500 crore. The construction of three underpasses, scheduled to start in December 2011, is yet to begin. The upgradation of the Bodaki railway station at a cost of Rs 130 crore has also been stalled. The 400 MW power project of Noida Power Company Limited (NPCL), estimated at Rs 2000 crore, was awaiting environmental clearance from the state government when elections were declared.

Entrepreneurs are also apprehensive about the future of industrial development in the district. “I hope the new government will be more enthusiastic about industrial development and improve the law and order situation,” said Vipin Malhan, president, Noida Entrepreneurs’ Association.