Industries remain shut in Noida, residents write to CM

A majority of industries in Noida and Greater Noida remained shut on Thursday, a day after rampaging mobs vandalised and burnt several properties.

A majority of industries in Noida and Greater Noida remained shut on Thursday, a day after rampaging mobs vandalised and burnt several properties. A number of the people preferred to stay home.

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Most businessmen ignored the industry bodies’ request to keep units open to send across a message that they did not support the nationwide strike. “We had appealed to the industrialists to keep their units open. Many of them accepted our request but most industrialists were shocked by the violence on Wednesday,” said Aditya Ghildiyal, vice president, association of Greater Noida industries.

“You cannot take a chance as you never know what a mob can do. Around 11am on Thursday, a mob of 50-60 people gathered at Udyog Marg and started chasing vehicles. So I had to return home,” said Neeraj Kumar, a resident of Sector 12.

The Noida federation of RWAs on Thursday decided to hold a meeting to condemn the violence. “We have written to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to ensure safety to all residents and industrialists. The police did not take any preventive measures on Wednesday due to which the mob went out of hand and vandalised property worth R1,000 crore,” said AN Dhawan, chief advisor of the federation.

Fearing violence, Uttar Pradesh State Roadways Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses did not ply in Noida on Thursday, much to commuters’ discomfort. “I needed to take my family to Meerut but could not because there was no bus from Noida today,” said Anil Chauhan a resident of Noida Sector 35.