NOIDA: The land that became a death trap for a software engineer on a foggy Sector 150 road last week is just one of many such hazards across the city. Numerous deep trenches dug on housing and commercial sites have been left untouched for years, contributing to a dangerous environment.
A survey by TOI identified several excavated areas along or near busy roads in Sectors 32, 85, 150, and 154. Many of these sites feature steep drops, thick vegetation, and exposed iron rods, yet lack essential safety measures like barricades, warning signs, or reflective markers.
In Sector 32, barricades designed to keep vehicles from falling off Shivalik Marg have collapsed, leaving the road’s edge dangerously exposed. This particular pit, estimated to be between 80 to 100 feet deep, is overgrown and filled with construction debris, making it particularly perilous during low visibility conditions.
Near the Janpath Marg roundabout, close to the Sector 85 police chowki, lies another unsafe waterlogged site filled with hyacinth and sewage, fed by runoff from an open drain.
Conditions are similar around Tata Eureka Park in Sector 150, where Yuvraj Mehta, the engineer who drowned in a water-filled trench on the night of January 16-17, resided. This area is part of the Sports City zone, where construction has halted since 2021 due to a report citing irregularities by the Comptroller and Auditor General. Consequently, many excavated plots remain abandoned.
The trench on plot SC/02 A-3, excavated by MZ Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd for a double basement, reached depths of nearly 30 feet, with exposed iron rods and sewage runoff filling it over time.
On the night of January 16-17, Yuvraj Mehta’s Grand Vitara crashed through a damaged boundary wall and fell into the trench amid thick fog and low visibility.
“These pits are particularly dangerous during the rainy and winter seasons,” remarked a local resident. “It’s hard to gauge how deep the water is, especially at night.”
Unsecured excavations were also noted near Sectors 142 and 143, adjacent to an under-construction project called Festival City. Many of these pits remain unfenced despite their proximity to busy roads.
In response, Noida Authority officials announced a citywide initiative to identify hazardous sites. “Teams have been instructed to survey waterlogged trenches, open drains, and excavated plots, recommending immediate safety measures,” stated SP Singh, general manager at the Authority. “We will take action where safety measures are lacking.”
The Greater Noida Authority is undertaking a similar initiative. “Teams are focusing on accident-prone areas, including construction sites and excavated zones,” said general manager AK Singh, noting that several builders have already been identified for corrective action, particularly in densely built Greater Noida West.
Despite these plans, local residents remain doubtful. “Such actions often happen only after a disaster,” commented Rohit Kumar, a Sector 150 resident. “Unless accountability is enforced for both builders and officials, these dangerous pits will continue to threaten lives.”
