8ft-deep ditch left open for 15 days on Surajpur road

Noida: Just two months after software engineer Yuvraj Mehta drowned in an unsecured, water-filled trench along a sharp turn in Sector 150, residents have flagged another large ditch near the Vishwa Bharti School intersection on Surajpur Road that has been left uncovered for over two weeks, warning that it is an accident waiting to happen.The ditch, estimated to be more than eight feet deep and stretching roughly seven metres, was initially dug to access the leaking pipeline. Residents claim it has since been left unsecured and was gradually expanding as water eroded the surrounding soil.
Harinder Bhati, general secretary of the Beta-1 residents' welfare association, said the pit is located next to a busy stretch used daily by commuters and students from the nearby school, raising concerns about pedestrian safety. "Is the Authority waiting for another tragedy before acting?" he asked.Residents said the absence of barricades or warning signs makes the situation even more dangerous, particularly during evenings when traffic remains heavy. Nidhi Sharma, another resident who frequently travels along the stretch, said it appeared that little had been learnt from past incidents. "Every day we hear about accidents caused by open pits or potholes," she said. "Yet authorities seem indifferent until something serious happens."Om Tiwari, a resident of Sector Beta 1, said gate number 1 of the area lies close to the site, and he passes through the stretch daily while commuting to Sector Alpha 2. The risk of an accident, he said, is constant. "Since there is no barricading around the spot where the pipeline has leaked, I drive very cautiously. Any wrong turn or moment of distraction could lead to an accident," Tiwari said.Another resident noted that Gate No. 2 of Vishwa Bharti School, located right next to the pit, is usually kept shut, with entry and exit restricted to Gate No. 1 about 200 metres away. "But students still tend to walk along this road, which makes the situation even more worrying," the resident said.Locals have urged the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) to not only repair the pipeline but also address what they say is a broader pattern of poor infrastructure maintenance across the city.Officials acknowledged the issue but offered little clarity on when the site would be fully secured. Senior manager Vinod Sharma later said repair work on the water pipeline was underway and could be completed by late Friday. Residents, however, remain sceptical, noting that the pit has remained exposed for more than two weeks despite repeated complaints.TOI had earlier reported how pits dug for laying cables, sewer lines or water pipelines, and often left open for weeks, sometimes even months, had emerged as a major public safety hazard across several sectors, including Beta 1, Beta 2, Xu 1, Alpha and Delta. Residents had blamed poor coordination between departments and lax enforcement by the Authority for the persistence of open pits and uncovered drains. Ironically, days after Mehta's death, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) had ordered an immediate review of road safety measures across its jurisdiction. In an order issued on Jan 19, CEO NG Ravi Kumar directed officials to identify and promptly fill potholes along roads and to mark accident-prone "black spots" without delay following the fatal incident in neighbouring Noida, where a software engineer died after his car plunged into a water-filled pit.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !