NOIDA: In 2022, the Noida Authority rejected a modified layout from Wiztown Planners for the Sector 150 plot, where a 27-year-old software engineer tragically drowned last Saturday night. The Authority deemed the layout inconsistent with the integrated Sports City scheme, perceiving it as more of a commercial complex rather than a sports-oriented development.
The 27,185 sqm plot, SC-02/A3, is a part of the Sports City project in Sector 150, which was designed over a decade ago to create cohesive districts emphasizing sports infrastructure. The planning guidelines stipulate that sports and recreational areas should dominate 70% of the land use, with residential and commercial entities limited to subordinate roles to support these facilities.
Upon rejecting Wiztown’s updated layout, the Authority highlighted that only 5,136 sqm of commercial floor area ratio (FAR) was allowed on the Sector 150 site. However, the revised proposal included 26,189 sqm designated for pro shops and food-and-beverage (F&B) facilities, along with cinema screens. Officials noted that the existing Sports City design includes a clearly defined commercial block for these activities.
“The issue is not just the quantity but how the commercial aspects are integrated,” an official stated, adding that Wiztown’s plan did not separate the commercial block but instead intertwined these activities across the same area.
“Commercial planning needs to be distinctly defined to avoid overlap with sports-supporting facilities,” the official emphasized.
Upon reviewing the designs, the Authority concluded that the proposal “resembled a commercial complex” rather than a sports facility. They clarified that pro shops and F&B outlets are intended to be ancillary, typically situated alongside individual sports facilities like a golf course or tennis center. Consolidating these services in one location undermines the intended design of the Sports City.
The rejection of Wiztown’s proposal also followed serious concerns raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in 2019, which highlighted problematic issues in all four Sports City projects, such as unauthorized subdivisions of sports areas.
The Sector 150 project was awarded to a consortium led by Lotus Greens, and the SC-02/A3 plot was sub-leased to Wiztown in 2016 with the Authority’s consent. A building plan for the plot was sanctioned in 2017, which led to excavation for a basement that was subsequently inundated with sewage from nearby residential colonies.
Wiztown, part of the Sports City consortium, applied for building plan approval in February 2020. This application was marked for deficiencies, including the lack of a structural stability certificate, a fire department no-objection certificate, and a no-dues certificate.
When Wiztown submitted a revised plan in January 2021, the approval protocols for Sports City projects became stricter following the CAG audit. By January 2021, the Authority’s board decided to suspend approvals across all Sports City projects until the development of sports facilities on the ground progressed. This freeze included the Sector 150 project.
Recently, in discussions related to Sports City developments, the Supreme Court instructed the Authority to approve a revised layout for the entire project, contingent upon conditions that preserve the scheme’s integrated sports character and enforce specific timelines. Officials noted that any individual plot approvals, including those requested by Wiztown, must align with this revised, court-compliant layout.
Following the drowning incident involving Yuvraj Mehta, an FIR was filed against Wiztown and Lotus Greens, the lead developer. However, Lotus sought to disassociate itself from the site of the drowning, asserting that ownership, possession, and operational control of the plot rested with Wiztown following the 2016 sub-lease.
