Noida: Five years after the Noida Authority started restructuring and reworking the main and central market area of Noida, Sector 18 continues to beg for repairs and basic safety measures. Shopkeepers claim that access and civic issues have taken a toll on their businesses and they still don’t know by when the market would be fully restored.The renovation that started in early 2014 was divided into multiple phases. The underground drainage was repaired, fresh pavements were laid and construction on a multilevel parking started. Despite what has been done, the work has been slow and continues to pose problems for daily visitors. The Sector 18 Market Owners Association, an umbrella organisation for all businessmen in the market, claimed that the shop owners still don’t have a time line to suggest by when the renovation would be completed.At the central plaza area of the market, electric cables dangle, some almost obstructing the walkway. At the entry of the market from the Sector 18 metro station, a giant ditch dug up for repair of cables is left open with no signage or guard rails, making it dangerous for people walking in the area. Several open manholes, without protective guards or signage, dot the area. A part of the market is almost always waterlogged.“In the name of repairs, the Sector 18 market has become a disaster. Moving through the market is a problem, accessibility has become an issue and most pavements are blocked because of which people cannot walk properly. Too many steep steps and levels make it difficult for people to reach the shops. Cables are seen hanging and there is no greenery — this is not what we wanted for the market. We still don’t know when beautification will be done and it is the sixth year of repairs. There is still lot of work left. All those who have businesses here have suffered a lot because of the marathon construction,” said Sushil Kumar Jain, the president of the Sector 18 Market Owners Association.Surjeet Singh Bhasin, the vice-president of the market owners’ association, said: “The main problem of the Sector 18 market is that there was no proper planning for a phase-wise completion of work. Unplanned excavation of roads, lack of coordinated and bad quality repairs have stagnated the work. Additionally, the area has become highly polluted. There is water logging at several spots and there are power supply issues. Garbage and sewage disposal problems continue to plague the area, even after more than five years of continuous renovation.”Noida Authority officials, however, claimed that an inspection for the market was conducted during the weekend and an order has been issued to the contractor asking him to speed up work and take safety precaution. “I have taken over the responsibilities recently and Sector 18 is now a priority. The loose ends would be tied up by the end of April. I have issued a letter to the department concerned so that all safety gaps are closed,” said Vijay Rawal, project engineer, Noida Authority (work circle II).

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