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Template:India city infobox New Okhla Industrial Development Authority, or Noida, is a department of the government of Uttar Pradesh in India. Noida came into existence on 19th April, 1976 and celebrates 19th April as "Noida Day". Incidentally, Sanjay Gandhi was responsible for setting up Noida, as part of a major urbanisation thrust during the infamous Emergency period (1975-1977). It was developed near Delhi in the 1970s as a modern industrial city under the UP Industrial Area Development Act, 1976. NOIDA or New Okhla Industrial Development Area is, today, a highly industrialised city with various amenities available, and is considered to be one of the more modernised suburb districts of Uttar Pradesh. It is also home to the Noida Film City.

Geography

The land under the Noida limits was initially under the Bulandshahar District (approx. distance 37 km), but was later transferred to the Ghaziabad district (approx. distance 16 km). Later still, Noida was made into a separate administrative zone as a separate district by Chief Minister, Mayawati. This decision of the Mayawati government came under review from the next government of Mulayam Singh, who reversed it in 2003, and remerged Noida with Ghaziabad. After a period of some 9 months, the decision was reversed yet again in 2004 and the city was once again made into a separate district. There were some allegations of political favour-currying through low-priced land deals due to these decisions. Presently, the city is a separate district, called Gautam Buddh Nagar, with administrative HQ at Dadri, a nearby town. However, the highest government official, the District Magistrate (DM) stays in Noida. The city falls under the Noida-Dadri legislative assembly seat (Vidhan Sabha) and Khurja Parliamentary seat (Lok Sabha).

The latitude and longitude of Noida are 28°35′N 77°20′E / 28.583°N 77.333°E / 28.583; 77.333 respectively. It is bound on the west and south-west by the river Yamuna, on the north and north-west by Delhi, on the north-east by Delhi and Ghaziabad and on the north-east, east and south-east by the river Hindon. Noida falls under the catchment area of Yamuna and is an old river bed of the same. The soil is sand and clay mixed (Khadar) and is suitable for growing seasonal vegetables, grains like wheat and cash crops like sugarcane. With the advent of urbanisation, mostly vegetables and fruits are now grown.

Spread across 203.16 km², Noida today has a population of more than 500,000, about 50% of whom commute to Delhi daily, solely for the purpose of work. Noida has a large expatriate population of migrant labour from Bihar and West Bengal. Many instances of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh living in the city have been detected, but political pressure (commonly referred to as "vote bank politics") ensures that most of these remain in the city. These elements along with other local criminal gangs and syndicates are generally held responsible for the crimes in the city.

The famous DND Flyway connecting NOIDA with Delhi runs across the river Yamuna and receives a good patronage from office-goers in the city. The road is well known among the locals as the Toll Bridge.

Lately Noida has become a hub for multinational firms outsourcing IT services. Many large software and BPO companies have their offices in the city, notable being TCS, Interra, CSC, HCL, EXL, Birlasoft and Xansa. Noida also has the head office of the Software Technologies Park, in Sector 29, Ganga Shopping Complex. In industries, the famous music publishing company T-Series is based in Noida. Noida is fast emerging as a hub for automobile ancillary units, with companies like Daewoo, Escorts, Honda-SIEL and New Holland Tractors (JV of FIAT with Ford) opening up shop in the city. Of these Daewoo is currently closed. The plant has been taken over by the Tatas, but nothing concrete seems to be afoot for it.

There is more to Noida than just industries. Film city situated in Sector 16A is the hub of all major news channels and famous studios. Commercial activities have also risen in the past couple of years due to a sudden spurt in malls and multiplexes.

Noida is famous for the Sector 18 market. The Centerstage Mall which has the Wave Cinema is a famous landmark. Wave stages many film premieres with popular Bollywood stars making their appearances. In December 2005, North India's largest cineplex opened in Spice Mall. It has 8 screens and a seating capacity of 1821 people, second in India to PVR in Bangalore.

All the development in the areas of Industry, Commerce and Trade have led Noida to be a model city in UP. It is a major revenue earner for the government through taxes. The Noida model is now being replicated across various cities in UP, with a proactive development agency working to achieve high growth rates for business, industry and commercial ventures.

Another famous landmark in the area is the War Memorial inside the Golf Course, that commemorates the 1803 Battle of Patpargunj for the control of Delhi. Noida was in the news during the Kargil War with Pakistan, for the war heroics of Lt. Vijayant Thapar, a local resident. Noida is home to many houses owned by Army Personnel, and is the largest colony in Asia for serving or retired Defence Personnel. Arun Vihar (Sectors 28, 29 & 37) and Jalvayu Vihar (Sectors 21 & 25) are the main focus areas of Defence Personnel. A Noida Shaheed Smarak is located in Sector 37.

Recently the city was under focus for a Noida Half Marathon and the city's maiden international exposure, with the Queen's Baton Relay for the upcoming commonwealth games. The city currently boasts of a stadium, which is being upgraded to international standards for the Commonwealth Games 2010, some of which are likely to take place in Noida. It is for this reason that Noida has been put on the fast track for another prestigious project, i.e. the Delhi Metro. The Metro which was slated to enter Noida in 2012 has now been planned for 2009, a year before the games in 2010. Noida will be connected to the CP station, via the Barakhambha Road-IP Estate-Akshardham Complex link.

Property rates, as a consequence, are on the rise in the township. Land rates which were in the Rs. 3,000-15,000/m² range till about 5 years ago have soared to Rs. 20,000-80,000/m². The Noida Authority came under fire recently, for their controversial decision to build the world's tallest building, thereby putting Noida on the world map. However, the decision was shelved, after protests from citizens through the media, as the city does not have the infrastructure to handle a 1 km tall building. Noida comes under seismic zone 4, which along with loose soil and sand of the Yamuna river bed, means building collapse in an earthquake situation is a distinct possibility. It was felt that the city needs to focus on improving water quality, security, traffic management and power problems before looking at grandiose projects of little real value.

External links

• Official Site
• Noida Police
• Shopping Malls in Noida
• Noida Business
• Noida Pulse
• Dekh Noida Dekh
• Noida Scoop
• Noida Metro
• Times of India - Noida Plus

• Uttar Pradesh