Noida – Greater Noida Expressway: The traffic pressure on the existing Noida Expressway connecting Noida and Greater Noida is increasing day by day. Lakhs of vehicles use this road every day. To overcome this problem, Noida Authority had planned to build a second parallel expressway on the banks of Yamuna river. This new 30 km long corridor was to start from Kalindi Kunj near Okhla Barrage and go to Yamuna Expressway near Pari Chowk. But now this project has suffered a big setback.
The Irrigation Department has refused to give NOC for construction along the embankment of Yamuna. The department says that construction near the dam may damage the flood control system and drainage channels of the river. Due to this, the plan to build an elevated expressway on the banks of the river has also been stopped. Earlier there was a plan to build the road at ground level, but due to illegal construction and farmhouses in the floodplain of Yamuna, a proposal for an elevated road was brought.
Earlier this year, the board of Noida Authority had given in-principle approval to this project. The state government had entrusted the responsibility of building it to UPEDA. The cost was to be borne jointly by Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Authority. In July, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had also asked NHAI to consider. But now Meerut Division of Irrigation Department again did not give NOC. The second problem is that the plan to declare Pushta Road as a National Highway and get it constructed by NHAI is also stuck.
Noida Authority changed its focus
Now Noida Authority has changed its focus. At present, as an interim arrangement, emphasis is being laid on fully operationalizing the 45 meter wide sector road running on both sides of the existing Noida Expressway. These sector roads run along the expressway and act as connectors for local traffic. If these are connected completely, they can reduce some of the burden on the expressway.
The existing six-lane Noida Expressway is 25 kilometers long. There is a main road in the middle, narrow service lanes on both sides and 45 meter sector roads on the outside. The authority wants to make these outer roads a relief corridor. Officials say that due to this, some part of lakhs of vehicles plying on the expressway can be shifted here.
These roads are stuck due to land acquisition
But there is a problem in these sector roads also. The road is broken at three places between Greater Noida and Noida. These gaps are 74 meters, 75 meters and 81.5 meters, which are between Sectors 163 and 167. The reason is that land acquisition there is still pending. Farmers are protesting against giving land. DGM (Civil) Vijay Rawal said that talks are going on. Soon the land will be acquired so that this road can run continuously. This can become an alternative route during heavy jams, breakdowns or construction. Residents of many sectors are affected by this.
People of sectors 150, 151, 152, 153, 155, 163, 167, 135 and 168 are not able to use the sector road for the entire journey. They have to come to the expressway, which increases the traffic jam. The 11 kilometer Yamuna Embankment Road, first opened in 2014, has also deteriorated and needs to be rebuilt. According to the official, the plan for the parallel expressway is not finished yet. Efforts to get approval again will continue. But at present it is necessary to strengthen the sector road because the traffic pressure is increasing. In the coming time, more vehicles will come with the opening of Jewar Airport.
