Noida: A proposal seeking safe and affordable accommodation for working youth in Noida and Greater Noida has been submitted to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the state chief secretary and the Noida Authority CEO. The proposal, submitted by Noida resident Ajit Singh, calls for the development of dedicated working men’s hostels near industrial areas, along with strict regulation of the existing paying guest (PG) accommodation system.
Lack of affordable housing puts young workers at risk
Noida and Greater Noida attract thousands of young people from different parts of the country for employment, training, business and other professional opportunities. However, the proposal highlights the shortage of safe and affordable accommodation for these workers.
In the absence of adequate hostels, many young workers depend on privately operated PGs. The proposal argues that several such establishments raise concerns over fire safety, emergency exits, building capacity, ventilation, room sizes, rent transparency and registration.
For families sending their children to another city for employment, the safety of their accommodation remains a major concern. High rental costs can also consume a significant portion of a young worker’s income, leaving less money available for household expenses or financial support to their families.
Fire safety concerns highlighted
The proposal points to incidents of fires and other accidents in PGs, training centres and unauthorised buildings in the Delhi-NCR region as a warning about the need for stronger safety standards. It also refers to a fire incident in a house in Mamura, where young occupants reportedly had to escape through rooftops with the help of neighbours. According to the proposal, the absence of systematic registration, inspections and safety audits of PGs could pose a serious risk to residents in the event of a major accident.
Proposal for government land for working men’s hostels
One of the key suggestions is to develop modern working men’s hostels on suitable government or authority land near industrial areas in Noida and Greater Noida. The proposal suggests that organisations such as the Noida Young Working Men Association or other eligible non-profit organisations could be permitted to operate these facilities under clearly defined government rules.
The proposed model includes:
- Land to be provided by the government or the concerned authority.
- Ownership of the land and building to remain with the government or authority.
- Operating rights to be granted to an eligible organisation under defined terms and conditions.
- No transfer of ownership to any individual or private organisation.
- A maximum stay of one year for residents, allowing other needy workers to access the facility.
- Mandatory fire safety, emergency exits, ventilation, sanitation, clean drinking water and security arrangements.
- Government-approved rules governing the operation of the hostel.
- Cancellation of operating rights in case of serious violations or compromise of residents’ safety.
- Government-approved or regulated rents to prevent financial exploitation of young workers.
The proposal suggests that such a model could eventually be replicated in other industrial cities across the country.
Strict rules proposed for existing PGs
Until adequate working men’s hostels are developed, the proposal calls for stricter regulation of the existing PG network in Noida and Greater Noida.
Among the measures suggested are mandatory registration of every PG, penalties for operating without registration and regular fire and building safety audits.
The proposal also calls for:
- Mandatory fire safety clearance.
- Emergency fire exits in every PG building.
- Adequate ventilation and safe access.
- Strict limits on the number of occupants based on the building’s approved capacity.
- Mandatory licences or permissions for PG operators.
- Minimum room-size standards and limits on the number of occupants per room.
- Transparent rental norms.
- Mandatory rental receipts for every occupant.
- Verification and maintenance of records of all occupants as per applicable rules.
- Fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment.
- Emergency lighting, safe staircases and clearly marked evacuation routes.
- Periodic inspections by the concerned authorities.
- Action, including sealing where necessary, against PGs violating safety regulations.
“The objective is not to target private PG operators”
The proposal makes it clear that the objective is not to target private PG operators but to ensure that young people who move away from their homes for employment have access to a safe and dignified place to live at a reasonable cost. It points to the YMCA and YWCA in Delhi as examples of institutions that have historically provided hostel and social services for young people. The proposal argues that similar facilities in Noida and Greater Noida, operated purely for public welfare and youth development without discrimination based on caste or religion, could strengthen the region’s accommodation infrastructure for working youth.
Two key demands before the government
The proposal has sought action on two key issues.
First, a policy should be formulated for allotting land near industrial areas in Noida and Greater Noida for the development of safe working men’s hostels.
Second, strict regulations should be introduced for existing PGs covering registration, rent, occupancy limits, building safety, fire safety, emergency exits and periodic inspections.
The proposal emphasises that providing safe and affordable accommodation to young workers should be considered an important part of creating a more secure and sustainable employment ecosystem in Noida and Greater Noida.