The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has decided to conduct a structural audit of Arihant Amber in Noida Extension, following the death of a 46-year-old resident who was struck by a chunk of concrete that fell from an overhead beam, causing his motorcycle to crash into a tower wall. The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon.
Authority Responds with Audit
Saumya Srivastava, additional CEO at GNIDA, stated, "The Authority will initiate a structural audit of the building and its construction and take suitable action based on the report." The decision came a day after the tragic event that claimed the life of Vikas Chawla, a resident of Tower D (flat 1507), who lived with his wife, two children, and parents.
Details of the Incident
The accident took place around 4pm on Saturday as Chawla was riding out from Tower D's parking area. Tushar Panda, president of the Apartment Owners Association (AOA), reported that Chawla had reached an open space when "a portion of the roof beam fell on him." He lost control of his two-wheeler and hit the tower wall, with his head striking a corner. Residents rushed him to Yatharth Hospital, approximately five minutes away, but he was declared dead on arrival.
Chawla's younger brother, Deepak, filed a complaint alleging that "as soon as he took the turn, a large piece of plaster fell from above and hit him. He was seriously injured." Deepak demanded strict action against both the builder and the AOA. An FIR was registered at Bisrakh police station against the builder and the AOA under BNS Section 106 (causing death by negligence). The maintenance in-charge of the society was arrested.
History of Complaints
Residents stated that the tragedy followed repeated warnings about the building's deteriorating condition. According to them, plaster has been peeling off "after every spell of strong wind and rain," and complaints to authorities and UP-Rera did not result in lasting repairs. Panda noted that in the last three years, 20-25 similar incidents had occurred, but this was the first time a resident suffered fatal injuries. The AOA had moved Rera in 2024, and while the developer placed a cradle for maintenance last year, "no repair works" were carried out.
In a May 29 letter to the district administration, the AOA described the external plaster and structural components as "highly dilapidated." The letter stated, "Cement and concrete chunks are falling daily from balconies and beams… Despite a pending RERA case… no repair has been carried out."
Developer's Response
The developer, Arihant Group, rejected the allegations, asserting that maintenance is no longer its responsibility. Kaushal Jain, managing director, explained that the project received its completion certificate in 2018 and an occupancy certificate on December 14, 2018. The society's AOA was formed in 2022, and facilities were handed over on April 1, 2023. "According to rules, once the project is handed over to AOA, they are responsible for its maintenance," Jain said.
However, the AOA alleged in its Rera complaint that despite obtaining an OC, the developer did not complete several amenities in the project, including a swimming pool. Arihant Amber comprises four towers (A-D) with 628 flats, of which 625 are occupied. The project was developed by Citycon Buildwell Ltd.
