Wage Hike Protest Turns Violent in Noida: Vehicles Damaged, Roads Blocked

Noida workers wage protest turns violent after Haryana wage hike; vehicles burnt, roads blocked, traffic chaos, police deployed as authorities order strict action

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New Delhi: A massive protest by factory workers in Noida turned violent on Monday morning after thousands of employees gathered in industrial areas demanding higher wages and better working conditions. What started as a peaceful protest soon escalated into clashes, stone-pelting, vandalism, and vehicles being damaged, with at least one car set on fire. Police rushed to the spot and deployed heavy security to bring the situation under control.

The protest mainly took place in Noida Phase-2 Hosiery Complex, one of the city’s major industrial hubs. Workers from several factories gathered in large numbers and blocked roads, creating chaos across the area. The situation became tense as some protesters damaged vehicles and created panic among commuters and factory employees.

Authorities stepped in quickly and ordered strict action against those involved in violence while deploying additional police forces to control the situation and prevent further escalation.

Haryana Wage Hike Triggered the Protest

The protest began after the Haryana government recently announced a 35% increase in minimum wages for workers. Following this move, factory workers in Noida demanded a similar salary hike, saying they were getting lower wages despite working in nearby industrial cities like Gurugram and Manesar.

Reports said Haryana increased minimum wages for unskilled workers from ₹11,274 to ₹15,220 per month, creating dissatisfaction among Noida workers. Workers demanded equal pay for similar work and called for salary parity with neighbouring Haryana.

Workers from multiple garment, hosiery, and manufacturing units gathered early Monday morning and started protesting for salary parity and better benefits.

Protest Turns Violent

The protest initially began peacefully but later turned violent after tensions escalated between protesters and police. Visuals from the area showed vehicles being vandalised, one car set on fire, and protesters pelting stones.

Authorities confirmed several incidents during the protest:

• Vehicles damaged and one set on fire
• Stone-pelting reported
• Roads blocked by protesters
• Police vehicles vandalised
• Large crowds gathered across industrial sectors

The violence created panic among workers, office-goers, and nearby residents. Police tried to disperse the crowd and restore normalcy.

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Workers Put Forward Several Demands

Apart from salary parity, workers also raised multiple demands, including:

• Salary hike
• Overtime payment
• Bonus
• Weekly offs
• Timely salary payments
• Better working conditions
• Proper grievance redressal system

Workers said these demands had been pending for a long time, and the Haryana wage hike further increased their frustration.

Massive Traffic Jam Across Noida

The protest led to heavy traffic congestion across several key roads during Monday morning peak hours. Major disruptions were reported in:

• Noida Phase-2 Industrial Area
• Sector 62 and nearby areas
• Chilla Border
• NH-9 and surrounding routes
• Delhi-Noida link roads

Thousands of commuters travelling between Delhi and Noida were stuck for hours as roads remained blocked. Traffic congestion also extended to the Delhi-Noida border, causing inconvenience to office-goers and daily commuters.

Authorities advised commuters to avoid affected routes and use alternate roads.

Heavy Police Deployment to Control Situation

After the protest turned violent, police deployed additional forces in sensitive areas. Reinforcements were rushed to control crowds and prevent further escalation.

Officials said the situation became tense after clashes broke out during the protest. Police personnel were deployed across key locations to maintain law and order.

Delhi Police was also placed on alert to prevent any spillover of unrest toward the national capital.

Previous Tension Led to Large-Scale Protest

Reports suggested that workers had been protesting for several days before Monday’s violence. Earlier demonstrations had already taken place in Phase-2, where hundreds of workers gathered demanding wage parity.

Tensions increased further after wage differences between Haryana and Uttar Pradesh became a major issue. Some reports also mentioned that a woman worker was injured during earlier clashes, which further increased anger among labour groups and triggered the large-scale protest.

Industrial Work Affected

The protest disrupted operations in several factories in Noida’s industrial hub. Phase-2 houses hundreds of factories, including garment, hosiery, electronics, and manufacturing units.

Industry leaders expressed concern over:

• Production disruptions
• Worker safety
• Supply chain delays
• Property damage

Several factories temporarily halted operations due to the unrest.

Situation Slowly Coming Under Control

Authorities said the situation is gradually being brought under control, but tension still remains in the area. Police are closely monitoring developments to prevent further violence.

Officials are expected to hold discussions with worker representatives to address wage demands and prevent further protests.

Key Highlights

• Massive protest by factory workers in Noida Phase-2
• Triggered by Haryana wage hike
• Vehicles damaged, one set on fire
• Stone-pelting and clashes reported
• Heavy traffic jams across Noida and Delhi routes
• Heavy police deployment
• Authorities ordered strict action

Workers demand salary parity and better working conditions

The protest highlights growing wage concerns among industrial workers and increasing demand for salary parity between neighboring states. Authorities are now working to restore normalcy while discussions with worker groups are expected in the coming days.