Noida: At the time when Noida Authority civic performance has come under scrutiny following the death of a software engineer who drowned in a water-filled trench in Sector 150, a video clip has surfaced on social media where its health department project engineer is allegedly heard outlining a commission structure for official works. The engineer allegedly referred to a 16% “cut” as part of the “system”.The 60-second video, whose authenticity could not be independently verified by TOI, has been in circulation on X for some time, but no action has been taken so far. In the clip, which appears to be a conversation related to a project tender, the engineer is heard advising a man, believed to be a contractor but not visible in the video, to “file the bid accordingly”, stating that it was a small tender.When the contractor asked what payment would be required to ensure smooth processing of the work, the engineer allegedly replied that there was “nothing different” about the procedure. The contractor then said he was aware that civil tenders typically involved a 10-12% commission and asked whether this was included in the running cost, with no additional payment at the acceptance stage.The engineer was then heard saying there was an additional 4% commission at the acceptance stage, taking the total to about 16%, which he described as part of the prevailing system.Senior officials of the Noida Authority declined to comment on the allegations. An additional CEO-rank officer told TOI he was not authorised to issue a statement, while a general manager said he had not seen the video and could not respond. The Authority did not clarify whether any internal inquiry had been initiated.The allegations have surfaced at a time when the Authority is already under scrutiny following the death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, who drowned last week after his car plunged into a water-filled trench located in Sector 150. The incident triggered administrative action, including the removal of the then CEO and the formation of a Special Investigation Team to fix responsibility.While the purported video is not linked to the fatal accident, it has renewed questions over governance and internal accountability within the Authority. When contacted, the engineer denied the allegations, claiming the video was manipulated. “The matter is about one-and-a-half years old. The video was edited and created using AI,” he said, adding that he had lodged a complaint against unknown persons at the Sector 5 police station.The Noida Authority has faced allegations of corruption and financial irregularities in the past, with courts on several occasions pulling it up over lapses in land acquisition, compensation and plot allotments.
