Noida authority links OCs to compulsory facade lights for e-way buildings

NOIDA: In its push for facade lights on all buildings along the length of the Noida-Greater
Expressway, the Noida Authority has decided to link them to occupancy certificates (OC).
To begin with, it has dispatched letters to 40 developers of completed real estate, which includes
both residential and commercial buildings, setting a four-month deadline to put up facade lights.
For buildings that have still not got OCs, officials said it would not be issued if a developer fails
to install them.
Among landmark buildings whose developers have been told to install facade lights, in the first
phase, are Advant, Supertech e-Square, Divine India and Skymart. Officials said all buildings
that fall within a 200 to 250-metre range of the expressway are required to install facade lights.
Noida’s GM (planning) Ishtiaq Ahmed said, “The department has been holding meetings with
developers and urging them to comply with the order. The idea is to beautify and decorate the
stretch. Facade lights are to be installed only on those highrise buildings that face the
expressway. New projects will not get clearance until they comply with the facade lighting norm.”
As per the Authority’s rule, facade lights are required to be installed on 40% of the front area of
the building. This provision is mandatory on all buildings — existing and upcoming — located on
either side of the expressway. “A total of 60-70 buildings will have to install facade lighting,”
another official said.
During its board meeting in August this year, the Noida Authority approved a plan to illuminate
the 25km stretch of the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway on the lines of mega cities of the
world, including New York, Singapore and Dubai.
While proposing the plan, officials had said that although “Noida has its own beauty during the
day but it is not visible at night even though the streetlights dot the stretch”.
“In Noida, about 1.05 lakh LED lights have been installed and tri-colour light installed on
streetlight poles. Due to this, night driving has been facilitated. To make Noida more beautiful, if
provision of facade lighting is made in multi-storey buildings, Noida will be worth seeing at night
like other cities of the world,” the official Authority note had stated.
The Noida-Greater Noida Expressway is the main arterial road of Noida, used not only by locals
but also by commuters going to Agra, Delhi and Lucknow. According to the Noida Master Plan
2031, residential, commercial and institutional land use is proposed on this road.
As per the new rule, the Authority would not issue OC to a new project until its developer installs
facade lights on it. “Along with this, the layouts of new allottees would be approved in future with
the condition of installing facade lighting,” the official said.
Although installing façade lights is not a costly affair, its running cost in terms of electricity
consumption is one concern for builders. “The electricity consumption would cost lakhs every
month,” a developer, who did not wish to be named, said.