Mix reaction on first day of staggered timing in Noida

NOIDA: There was mix reaction on staggered timing concept in Noida on its first day. Some markets, which were supposed to be closed were opened on Friday while factories in the selected industrial sectors were closed. The district administration said initially it will appeal people in Gandhigiri style and if in the coming days this rule isn't followed then stringent action will be taken.

TOI had first reported that to decrease pollution level and decongest traffic from city roads, staggered timing is implemented in industrial units, schools and markets.

As per the schedulded program on January 1 Industrial units, shops and markets in Noida and Greater Noida implementation a staggered weekly closing roster from January 1 to follow a new decongestion plan that the Gautam Budh Nagar district administration unveiled.

The order, which comes into effect from January 1, leaves multinational companies and Indian corporate houses, media firms, IT and media firms and essential services out of its ambit. The administration has also requested schools to slightly tweak their timings and malls to open after 12pm, but it's not legally binding on them to do so.

According to the plan, industrial units in sectors 1, 3, 15, 16, 68, 80, 90, Barolla, Nithari, Morna and Nayabas will remain closed on Monday. Sectors 2, 4, 18, 22, 23, 37, 41, 50, 58, 69, 81, 89, Vishanpura, Agahpur and Challera will remain closed on Tuesday. Sectors 5, 7, 27, 28, 29, 59, 67, 83, 88, 110, Harola, Atta, and Bhangel will remain closed on Wednesday. Similar plans have been drawn up for the remaining sectors.

Shops in 8, 51, 61, 65, Gijhod, and Hoshiyarpur while industrial units in sectors 8, 61, 65 and 85 supposed to be closed. But shops and markets remained open while industrial units were closed.

Some schools have responded by either advancing or delaying the usual 8am start by half an hour, but malls are unlikely to do so as morning shows of movies start as early as 9am. The administration, however, is optimistic that staggered weekly closures of industries and markets will go a long way in decongesting the city's roads and rein in air pollution caused by congestion.

District magistrate N P Singh and police chief Kiran had announced that a consensus has been arrived at after several meetings with representatives from industrial houses, the transport department, traffic police and residents.

"We had divided the entire district into seven zones. Industrial units, shops and markets will close on rotation from Sunday to Saturday in Noida and Greater Noida. They have also made changes in their office timings to ensure smooth traffic system during peak hours," Singh said.

"On first day and in the coming few days our officers will urge and convince people to adhere to the concept for the sake of their and their loved ones future. Even if anybody violate rules then stringent legal action will be taken against violators," Singh added.