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Time of India
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In late-night reshuffle in NCR, Noida gets its first woman DM
1 2 Noida: UP govt announced a late-night reshuffle on Monday, assigning new district magistrates for Noida and Ghaziabad. Medha Roopam, a 2014-batch IAS officer, became the first woman DM of Noida. Currently the DM of Kasganj, she will replace Manish Verma, who has been transferred to Prayagraj. Medha is no stranger to the district of Gautam Budh Nagar, having served as additional chief executive officer of Greater Noida Authority from Feb 2023 to June 2024, when she handled major infrastructure and planning projects. An economics graduate from St. Stephen's College of Delhi University, Roopam began her career in Bareilly and has since held key administrative positions in Meerut, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki, Hapur, and Kasganj. A national-level rifle shooter, she won three gold medals in the Kerala State Shooting Championship before securing an all-India rank of 10 in the 2014 UPSC exam. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida Her tenure in Hapur saw focused immunisation and Ayushman Bharat campaigns. In Kasganj, she made headlines for driving a tractor through flooded areas of Gangagarh to monitor rescue efforts. Medha is the daughter of retired Kerala-cadre IAS officer and current chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Her husband, Santosh Kumar Singh, is the DM of Saharanpur. The reshuffle also brought changes to Ghaziabad, where Ravindra Kumar Mandar — a 2013-batch IAS officer and former DM of Prayagraj — replaced Deepak Meena, who moved to Gorakhpur. Mandar, who is from Jaipur, is known for his low-profile yet high-impact administration. As DM of Rampur, he launched 'Mission Samarth', enabling surgeries for 61 children with disabilities, and led a large-scale pond restoration project under the Amrit Sarovar scheme. Earlier this year, he oversaw the Kumbh Mela as Prayagraj DM. Both Roopam and Mandar were unavailable for comment at the time of filing this report. Manish Verma, the outgoing Noida DM, took charge in Feb 2023 and steered several initiatives around law and order, infrastructure approvals, and investor outreach. Meena, who served as Ghaziabad DM since Jan, recently managed the high-footfall kanwar yatra, ensuring round-the-clock coordination among police, municipal, and disaster management teams.
India Today
22-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Noida DM orders public holiday on July 23 for Jalabhishek. Key details
Noida DM Manish Verma has declared an official holiday on July 23 for the Jalabhishek event. All schools and government offices in Gautam Buddh Nagar will stay and government offices in Noida will remain closed tomorrow, July 23, as per an official order issued by District Magistrate Manish Verma. The one-day public holiday has been declared in view of the upcoming Jalabhishek event taking place in the order applies to all educational institutions both private and government and to all government offices under the Gautam Buddh Nagar district. Work will resume as normal the following day, unless otherwise notified by authorities. The District Inspector of Schools (DIOS) has informed all schools in the district to comply with the DM's directive. A public notification was also released confirming the to the DM's office, this decision was made to maintain peace, ensure smooth movement, and manage the crowd expected during the Jalabhishek religious procession tends to attract large gatherings, and authorities want to avoid any disruption to public services or services and essential departments will continue functioning as usual. However, if you're planning to visit any government office, bank, or if your children have scheduled school activities, you may need to is not the first time such a holiday has been declared in Noida. Similar steps have been taken in previous years around large religious or public events to help local authorities manage the situation are advised to stay updated through official sources in case of any new announcements.- Ends
Time of India
19-07-2025
- Time of India
Short-term rentals in Noida under scanner as highrise ‘b&bs' proliferate
Noida: Short-term rentals in high-rise residential societies have come under scrutiny following a spate of complaints about loud parties, drug use, and unauthorised commercial activity. Officials say properties listed on online booking platforms are being used as unregistered guesthouses and party venues, often in violation of housing and excise norms. At a recent Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting, DM Manish Verma directed police, excise officials and other agencies to investigate these properties. You Can Also Check: Noida AQI | Weather in Noida | Bank Holidays in Noida | Public Holidays in Noida "We need to examine the legality of such rentals," Verma said. "If someone is letting out a flat for a day or two, it must comply with the Sarai Act. If liquor is being served, the flat owner must also have a home bar licence under UP excise rules." The Sarai Act, 1867, aims to standardise and regulate the operations of sarais or guesthouses, ensuring they are maintained properly and provide basic amenities to travellers. The Act outlines penalties for violations of its provisions, including fines and potential disqualification for owners. While platforms like Airbnb allow flexible stays, officials say the absence of regulation has allowed some units to become hotspots for disruptive gatherings and, in some cases, illegal drug use. Excise officer Subodh Kumar, who was present at the meeting, said many flat owners and brokers are letting out properties on a daily or weekly basis without any oversight. "These flats are technically residential but are functioning like mini hotels or party spots. This is not just a violation of housing regulations but also a potential threat to law and order," Kumar said. A multi-agency team will now survey residential societies where such listings are common and submit a detailed report to the district administration. Officials told TOI that short-term rentals were mostly operating out of studio apartments in under-construction residential societies without residents welfare association and apartment owners associations, making it difficult for them to track such activities. Typically, these are furnished flats with WI-FI and parking facilities, and charge anywhere between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 a night. Currently, there is no formal regulatory framework for such rentals. Lack of hotels and guesthouses, especially near business and industrial hubs, makes these short-term rentals attractive to people visiting the city for work. The average rent of studio apartments in Noida ranges from Rs 35,000 to Rs 45,000 per month and from Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 in Greater Noida. Rajiva Singh, president of the Noida Federation of Apartment Owners' Associations (NOFAA), said no residential society in Noida with a functioning RWA or AOA currently allows short-term rentals. "There was one society in Sector 137 where studio apartments were being rented out on Airbnb a couple of years ago, but that was stopped once the AOA was elected," he said. Singh raised concerns over security. "If new people are coming and going every night, who takes responsibility for the area's safety? Unlike tenants, daily visitors aren't subject to police verification," he added. The DM also called drug abuse in youths a matter of concern. "Drug addiction is not just misleading youth, it's weakening the social fabric. Every department must work together to stop it," he said during the meeting. He also stressed the importance of awareness campaigns involving schools, colleges, hostels, PGs, and RWAs. Surprise inspections will be carried out, and institutions will need to submit affidavits declaring their campuses drug-free. The administration is also planning to publicly recognise educational institutes that actively keep their spaces clean of drug activity.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Yoga in jails, orphanages, old age homes, police lines on Wednesday
A special yoga practice session was held at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary on Tuesday, marking the third day of the week-long 11th International Yoga Day celebrations, district administration officials informed. The 'Yoga Week', themed 'Yoga for One Earth, One Health', is being observed from June 15 to 21 under the direction of the Ministry of AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy). 'Yoga Week is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to come together and promote health, wellness, and unity in our community. We are committed to making these sessions accessible to everyone, so that the benefits of yoga reach all segments of society,' Manish Verma, district magistrate of GB Nagar, said. At the yoga session on Tuesday, Yoga instructors led the participants through a common yoga protocol and explained the health benefits through interactive sessions. Additionally, health camps were also organised in gram panchayats, including Ghodi Bacheda and other villages in the district. Officials informed that sessions on Wednesday are scheduled from 6am to 10am at the district jail, orphanages, old age homes, and police lines in Surajpur, Greater Noida. 'As per the instructions of the Ministry of AYUSH, yoga sessions are being organised across the district, including jails, orphanages, old age homes, and police lines on June 18. Our objective is to make yoga accessible to everyone and promote unity, health, and well-being,' Dharmendra Kumar Kaim, regional ayurvedic and unani officer, Gautam Budh Nagar, said. 'Our department is working closely with yoga experts and local authorities to reach maximum people of Gautam Budh Nagar. The aim is to empower people to take charge of their health and well-being through simple, effective practices,' he added.
Time of India
01-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Survey to check impact of land acquisition for Noida airport phase 3 & 4
NOIDA : A door-to-door survey from Monday will study the impact on landholdings, livelihoods, homes, public utilities and community resources in 14 villages from where land will be acquired for the expansion of Noida International Airport in phases 3 and 4. Two runways and a global aerospace manufacturing hub are proposed on 2,053 hectares—of which 1,857 hectares are privately owned and will be acquired from 14 villages—in two of the four-phase development of the airport. A runway, a terminal building and an air traffic control tower are coming up on 1,334 hectares acquired in phase 1, while MRO and aviation hubs are proposed on the 1,365 hectares acquired in phase 2. A social impact assessment (SIA) undertaken by Gautam Buddha University and approved by the state govt in Jan had found around 8,400 families across 14 villages—Thora, Neemka Shahjahanpur, Khwajpur, Ramner, Kishorepur, Banwaribas, Parohi, Muqimpur Shivara, Jewar Bangar, Sabauta Mustafabad, Ahmedpur Chaurauli, Dayanatpur, Bankapur, and Rohi—in Jewar tehsil would be displaced in the last two phases. The latest survey, to be undertaken by 49 teams, comprising officials from district administration and Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority, will draw up census and statistical data of families affected by the land acquisition. DM Manish Verma said the survey will be carried out under Section 16 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, and completed by June 15. SDM Jewar Abhay Singh told TOI that based on the survey, a draft rehabilitation and resettlement scheme will be drawn up. "This will outline entitlements for both landowners and landless families. It will also list the resettlement provisions in terms of infrastructure and amenities. A draft will then be published and a public hearing held to gather objections or suggestions," he added. The draft, along with a report on the objections, will be submitted to the district collector, and subsequently to the commissioner, for approval. "Once approved, a final scheme will be published and a formal declaration of the resettlement area announced. If not already done, a detailed land survey will be initiated to mark and measure the required land and prepare its layout. The award for land acquisition will be made within 12 months of the declaration. The collector will determine the market value of the land and calculate the compensation. A solatium, which is an additional 100% of the compensation, will be added as mandated. The final land acquisition will then proceed through an agreement between the landowners and the state," Singh said. In March, UP announced that landlosers will be entitled to Rs 4,300 per square metre in compensation, which is 40% higher than the Rs 3,100 per sqm offered in the second phase. In phase 1, UP offered Rs 2,100 per sqm in compensation. A notification issued by the civil aviation department recently stated that under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, displaced families will be rehabilitated to areas equipped with basic amenities like roads, water, electricity, sewerage, parks, community halls, schools, hospitals, as well as religious places, like temples and mosques, as per their social and cultural background.
