NOIDA: Residents of Mahagun Moderne Society in Sector 7 and 8 protested on Sunday against the increase in Common Area Maintenance (CAM) fees imposed by the AOA.
The hike, from Rs 1.99 to Rs 2.55 per square foot, was enacted without a mandatory General Body Meeting (GBM), stirring discontent among nearly 2,600 families in the community.
Residents also raised concerns about blocked fire exits near a tower, unauthorized shops, and alleged malpractices by the AOA, indicating a lack of democratic elections.
The increase in CAM charges has been criticized, especially in light of a staffing reduction from around 100 to 50%, leading to declining service quality, including maintenance issues, poor cleanliness, and malfunctioning lifts. The new rates came into effect on June 1, with residents expressing frustration over rising costs amidst deteriorating conditions.
The protest underscored deep-seated safety concerns, notably around illegal constructions that obstruct fire exits in Tower Avlon. “Illegal shops have been built blocking fire exits, yet the Noida Authority has only issued empty notices without taking genuine action,” stated Anshuman Singh, a resident.
Complaints lodged through the IGRS Jansunwai portal have gone unaddressed, according to Singh, who highlighted that around 200 families in Tower Avlon are potentially being put in danger. “We feel like we are living next to a ‘death trap,’” echoed fellow resident Sunil Chaudhary.
Despite multiple meetings with Noida Authority officials, the residents feel ignored, receiving nothing but unfulfilled assurances, according to Rahul Mundra, another resident.
Residents also voiced their frustrations over the lack of democratic elections since the builder’s takeover in 2018. “A small group has controlled the AOA for seven years, using intimidation and political connections to maintain their power,” remarked a senior resident.
The protestors are demanding accountability and an immediate rollback of the CAM hike. Their requests include a transparent GBM, the demolition of illegal structures blocking fire exits, an investigation into AOA corruption, a fire safety audit across all towers, and independent oversight during AOA elections.
Should their demands remain unmet, residents warned they would escalate the situation to higher authorities, including the NHRC, the office of the UP chief minister, and the high court.
In response, YP Gupta, the current AOA president, stated that the CAM increase was mandated by a state government order in line with minimum wage laws. He dismissed allegations regarding blocked fire exits and noted that a fire safety audit had been completed, with necessary approvals secured from the Noida Authority. He also asserted that AOA elections are held annually under appropriate oversight.
About the illegal shops near Tower Avlon, Gupta claimed these were expansions of a prior builder’s office and insisted that no fire exits had been blocked.
