They have been since long demanding a change to freehold property system from the leasehold system that's prevalent now.
Though Noida Authority, in a meeting yesterday, said it will table a proposal to allow freehold property in the city in its next board meet, residents, trader and entrepreneurs took to the street today to demand the same. They said they are tired of assurance and discussions, and want a decision now.
They are also demanding cancellation of surface parking contracts outside industrial units.
Noida Authority Chief Executive Officer Alok Tandon called in a meeting to discuss the issue with the president of Federation of Noida RWAs (FONRWA), Noida Entrepreneurs’ Association (NEA) and other trade bodies.
The authority has agreed to waive off parking fee for areas in front of industrial units measuring up to 1,800 sq m. The decision comes after pressure from entrepreneurs who claimed their workers were refusing to come to work because of the parking fee. Interestingly, almost 90% of the 10,200 industrial units in Noida are less than 1,800 sq m.
At the meeting, the authority also assured FONRWA and NEA that the property issue will certainly be dealt with in its next board meeting.
Union Minister Dr Mahesh Sharma also reached the spot to assure the residents, and said he would talk to Noida Authority and other high-level officials on the matter, but the protesters were not appeased.
According to them, Noida Authority has every time only given assurance and done nothing.
NP Singh, President of Federation of Noida RWAs (FONRWA), said, "Since 2006, we are asking for freehold property. We also held talks with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath — and he also assured us action.”
Vipin Malhan, president of Noida Entrepreneurs’ Association, added, “It's time Noida Authority fulfilled our longstanding demand.”
