NOIDA, APRIL 13 — A three-day labor protest in Noida escalated into violence on Monday, as factory workers demanding higher wages clashed with security forces, leading to arson and the suspension of key transit services.
The unrest, primarily involving employees of the Motherson Group, caused significant disruptions across NH-9 and the Noida Metro corridor. Demonstrators, who are seeking an increase in their monthly pay, blocked arterial roads in Phase-2 and Sectors 59 through 62. The situation deteriorated when protesters reportedly engaged in stone-pelting and set fire to several private vehicles and buses.
“Workers claim they are being paid between Rs 9,000 and Rs 13,000 despite working 12-hour shifts,” stated a local representative observing the demonstration. The protesters asserted that rising inflation and substandard labor conditions have made their current earnings unsustainable.
Police responded to the violence by deploying tear gas to disperse the crowds after a police vehicle was overturned during the confrontation. While security forces have since moved to tighten control over the industrial sectors, thousands of commuters remained stranded for hours due to the gridlock.
Authorities maintained that they are working to restore normalcy while facilitating a dialogue regarding the workers’ demands. The protest has particularly affected the Noida–Greater Noida corridor, preventing many office-goers from reaching their destinations.
