In what might be one of the most unexpected civic developments this month, residents, predominantly Hindus, of Noida Sector 15A are protesting against the construction of a temple. This has sparked several opinions and debates among the residents about the issue.
All About The Incident
This discussion, around the construction of a temple, has arisen in a part of a park called Vrindavan Park. This area, roughly 300 square metres, is located in Sector 15A of Noida, Uttar Pradesh. This park has been described as the “green lungs” of the locality.
On 22nd February 2026, several residents of the locality led a protest against the authority for the construction of the temple in the area. This was a project under the “Scheme for Setting up Religious Places/ Sites,” which was launched on February 5, 2026.
The 59 residents filed a petition against the authorities in the Allahabad High Court. Approximately 206 other residents serve as signatories to the petition. They alleged that the construction of the temple would lead to the felling of nearly 100 trees and cause disruption to the daily lives of the people.
According to an article by The Wire, “Some residents have alleged that the Noida Authority, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Noida MP Mahesh Sharma, members of the residents’ welfare association (RWA), and an organisation named Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti are conspiring to conduct an unfair auction and facilitate the construction of a temple.”
What The Residents Have To Say
Nakul, a 38-year-old businessman, opined that there was no need to display one’s religion all the time. Claiming that “Most residents don’t want a temple,” the 38-year-old businessman said, “There are so many temples around. We have temples at home. All of us are hardcore Hindus, but we don’t wear our religion on our sleeves. We keep our religion private. But these guys have turned fanatics and want to build a temple here.”
This explains the views of locals in the area. While people in the area are religious, they believe faith is personal and that there is no need to build another temple inside a public park.
SP Singh, a 79-year-old resident, said, “The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has given him [MP Mahesh Sharma] a target to make 128 temples in Noida. It is all about the RSS. It has nothing to do with religion. He just wants to be close to the RSS because it is running the show.”
Another resident, SM Dewan, told Scroll.in that he was worried that building a temple would create a precedent. He believed that Muslims and Sikhs living in Sector 15A might then request mosques and gurudwaras to be built in the area.
Dewan said, “It still shocks us that on the one hand, our beloved leader Modiji talks of peace and development while on the other, a small entity like Noida Authority negates everything he says. He is our favourite leader. We revere him because he is protecting the country. Despite him being in power, a small government authority is blatantly disobeying him.”
While some residents have given religious concerns, others have stated political claims to back their petition. They believe the change isn’t just about faith. It also includes influence and local power dynamics.
Read More: Journalist Sagarika Ghose Called Out For Getting Religion Into Uttarakhand Tunnel Rescue Coverage
Additionally, lawyer Prashant Joshi put forward his opinion on this matter. He explained that a temple was not a necessity and that many residents would agree with this thought. He said, “Today, the environment is full of fear. We have only ourselves to blame for this. The middle class always lives in fear and blames everybody else. If we come together, why will the temple be built? We are in the majority. Who are we afraid of? We should speak up.”
Further, Krishna Karunesh, CEO of Noida Authority, also said, “It is facility land. We have facility plots in nearly all sectors in Noida. These lands can be used for any facility, including an electric substation, a community centre, skill development centre, or a religious site. It can be anything – a temple, a mosque, a church, or a gurdwara.”
He further added, “It is the residents who demanded it, and now it is they who are protesting. If they don’t want it, we will cancel it.”
The Bigger Picture
The discussion about Vrindavan Park is more than just about a temple. For many residents, it is about the need to protect public spaces. Parks like this are more than just green areas; they serve as the heart of the community. Children play there, senior citizens enjoy walks, and families gather to spend time together.
While religion plays an important role, the residents don’t find the need to turn a public space into a religious site. This incident throws light on the need for a balance between religion and community needs, and how public spaces need to be preserved for everyone to enjoy.
Images: Google Images
Sources: The Wire, Scroll.in, The Indian Express
Find the blogger: @shubhangichoudhary_29
This post is tagged under: Noida Sector 15A protest, Vrindavan Park Noida controversy, Noida temple construction protest, Allahabad High Court petition Noida, Noida Authority religious site scheme, Temple construction in public park, Sector 15A residents protest, Religious site in public space India, Religion vs public spaces India, Urban green spaces protection, Civic activism in India, Tree felling protest India
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Excellent article