The worst affected areas included the Delhi-Noida Link Road, the DND flyway, and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, where long tailbacks stretching several kilometres were reported. Commuters faced severe delays, with one individual, Ankit Sharma, stating, “It took me nearly two and a half hours to reach from Indirapuram to Okhla. Usually, it’s a 45-minute drive.” The Delhi Traffic Police issued its first advisory regarding the situation at 11:48 am on the day of the protest.

As the protest continued, the situation began to ease mid-afternoon and was nearly resolved by late evening. However, the disruption had already impacted school operations in both Delhi and Noida, leading to widespread frustration among parents and students alike. Neha Gupta, another commuter, expressed her discontent, saying, “There was no proper advisory in the morning. By the time we realised what was happening, we were already stuck in the middle of it.”

In addition to the traffic chaos, the protests resulted in vandalism across 80 factories in Greater Noida and Noida. Local authorities have come under scrutiny for their handling of the situation, particularly the Local Intelligence Unit of the Noida Police, which failed to provide timely intelligence, leading to a breakdown in law and order.

Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister Anil Rajbhar commented on the protests, stating that they are being investigated as part of a “larger conspiracy.” He further suggested a possible link to Pakistan, stating, “Forces troubled by the growing popularity of the double-engine government are conspiring to create instability.” This assertion has raised eyebrows and added a layer of complexity to the ongoing situation.

While adequate police deployment was ensured after earlier disruptions, the effectiveness of these measures remains in question. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact nature of the ‘larger conspiracy’ mentioned by Rajbhar, and the overall effectiveness of police and administrative responses to the protests is still under scrutiny.

The protests in Noida highlight the ongoing struggles faced by workers in the region, as they demand better wages and living conditions. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to these pressing issues and whether further protests will occur in the future.

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“An MoU by Invest UP is a preliminary step before detailed due diligence and project evaluation gets done,” stated Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, regarding the recent agreement with Puch AI.

On March 24, 2026, Uttar Pradesh signed a ₹25,000 crore Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Puch AI, a Bengaluru-based startup founded in 2025 by Siddharth Bhatia and Arjit Jain. The agreement aims to build a comprehensive AI ecosystem in the state.

According to Bhatia, “UP Government and Puch AI have signed a ₹25,000 crore MoU to make Uttar Pradesh India’s first AI Pradesh.” This ambitious initiative is expected to enhance the state’s technological landscape.

However, the MoU is non-binding, as emphasized by Adityanath, who noted that any further progress would be contingent on a detailed evaluation of the investor’s proposal. “MoUs are non-binding on the State Government. Any further progress… is subject to detailed evaluation of the prospective investor’s proposal,” he added.

Puch AI operates primarily through WhatsApp and voice calls, providing free services such as chat assistance and fact-checking. Currently, over a million Indians use Puch AI each month, with more than 60% of them experiencing AI for the first time.

The startup reported an annual revenue of ₹42.9 lakh as of March 31, 2025. Despite its rapid growth, the deal has faced criticism due to Puch AI’s small team and its lack of a proven infrastructure track record.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding the specific projects that will be pursued under the MoU. Additionally, the long-term viability of Puch AI in executing large-scale commitments remains uncertain.

The Uttar Pradesh government has made it clear that any future developments will be subject to a thorough assessment of the startup’s capabilities and proposals.

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