Noida @ 45 – Sanjay Gandhi’s dream , Mulayam’s wrath to feather in Yogi’s cap

Noida (17/04/2020) : New Okhla Industrial Development Authority or Noida, turns 45 today. The city which was established during the 21-month long emergency period, was a pet project of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s son, Sanjay.

While today we see Noida as one of the most developed city in Uttar Pradesh, it’s initial journey was not so smooth.

After the emergency was lifted, Congress witnessed one of its worst performance in electoral history and Janata Party government was formed at the centre. The masters of new power corridor didn’t develop an instant liking for NOIDA and termed it as ‘an illegitimate child of the emergency’. There was also a point when government brainstormed over returning the land to farmers and dismantling the new formed authority.

However, based on the recommendation of a commission it was decided to develop Noida into an industrial hub, which will be in UP and can also enjoy advantages of being in close proximity with national capital.

So from being a part of Sikandarabad Tehsil of Bulandshahr district, Noida swiftly adopted it’s new identity and started growing on a path of rapid development, as envisioned by investors, industrialists and bureaucrats.

For some time, Noida was also part of Ghaziabad district, untill the formation of Gautam Buddha Nagar district in 1997.

Later, BSP Chief Mayawati, who also has her roots in Badalpur village, pro-actively took the mattle of Noida’s development in her hand and started opening new avenues for its all round development.

But this priority run for Gautam Buddh Nagar did not last for long, as the state government once again changed and SP diverted it’s focus on development of Vasundhara, Vaishali and Indirapuram clusters of neighbouring Ghaziabad district. Even Mulayam and Akhikesh allegedly did not even visited NOIDA attributed to a myth that if visited seat of power will vanish .

Indeed, the wheel of time have changed again and the district is back to being the hub of industrial and commercial development, with a new proposed airport at Jewar.

Yogi Adityanath, who has now visited Noida 10 times, also became the first CM to ignore the infamous ‘Noida jinx’ since after Mayawati and visiting the city to supervise development work.

As of now, the city boosts of great metro connectivity, sprwaling malls, flourishing IT industries, thriving media hub and one of the richest development authority in the state.

The city, now 44 year old, has still got more dreams and ambitions to achieve. How well will it fair in future, only time can tell!