NOIDA: While Noida might be one of the fastest developing industrial and technological hubs in the country, the mere task of getting into the city for work is an arduous task for the thousands of people who commute to the city for work every day.

There are six main entries connecting Delhi, Ghaziabad and Faridabad with Noida, all of which have never ending traffic jams during rush hours that can stretch to over 2km. According to the city’s traffic police there are over 4,00,000 vehicles that move regularly between Noida and Delhi alone and the increasing vehicular pressure on these links between Noida and other parts of Delhi NCR is the primary reason for this regular traffic disaster. According to city traffic police out of 4 lakh plus vehicles that commute to Noida from other parts of the city, the DND alone sees over 1 lakh cars every day. The reason for this increased pressure on DND is quite simply the fact that the other links between Noida and Delhi aren’t as well maintained.

Traffic coming from DND has a ripple effect on traffic at the entry to Noida at Sector 14A since it spills out and congests that route too. “DND is much better maintained than the other routes between Delhi and Noida. The road has 8 lanes and doesn’t have any pedestrians thus allowing smooth flow of traffic. The other routes are comparatively in a state of disrepair and have traffic bottlenecks and as a result DND is suffering due to increased vehicular pressure,” said Saifuddin Beg, chief traffic inspector (Noida).Rising vehicular pressure on links between Noida and other parts of Delhi-NCR has resulted in a series of bottlenecks and daily traffic jams on them due to a lack of required upgrading of roads. For instance the Okhla Barrage that connects Kalindi Kunj in Delhi with Noida and Greater Noida was constructed 25 years ago, but no repair work had been initiated until earlier this month.

“The main problem with these links is the fact that weren’t designed to handle the kind of vehicular pressure that they are subjected to currently. These roads need to be widened to allow smoother flow of traffic,” said Beg.While work on the Okhla Barrage has resumed, much needed work on other routes still needs to be initiated on other routes such as the NH24 which connects Model Town and Indirapuram in Ghaziabad with Noida. According to the traffic police the work on this route has suffered due to lack of coordination between the three civic bodies involved: Noida Authority, Greater Noida Authority and Ghaziabad Development Authority. “The NH24 urgently needs to be widened into an 8 lane route to accommodate more traffic to correspond with the rapid development of Ghaziabad,” added BegAccording to the city’s traffic police, the NIB Chowk on the NH24 bypass is another point which sees daily traffic snarls due to major engineering faults on the road. “A series of cuts and t points clustered extremely close to each other resulting in traffic pouring into the road from all directions and hinder traffic movement,” said an official.Less major routes which connect parts of east Delhi with Noida such as the Ashok Nagar and sector 11 link with Noida are also congested daily due to narrow roads which are not equipped to handle the increased traffic coming through to Noida.

Aniruddha GhosalAniruddha Ghosal | Jan 30, 2012, 07.21AM IST

NOIDA: In a complete U-turn from its aggressive stance of sealing all premises carrying out unauthorized commercial activity in residential and non-conforming areas, the Noida Authority on Friday put a brake on its drive. The Authority, instead, has decided to continue serving notices to defaulters to stop all commercial activity with immediate effect, presently threatening only action. “The Authority has decided to soften its stance following revised advice from our legal counsel,” said Anil Raj Kumar, additional CEO, Noida.

Amidst a lot of tension, several commercial establishments downed their shutters on Friday morning while Authority officials were closeted in a meeting till late afternoon. Later, a team of officials accompanied by cops started doing the rounds of Noida, handing out written notices. “Today, the notices are only being served to banks,” said an Authority official. The Authority’s first stop was sector 19 as it has over 20 bank branches functioning illegally out of residential premises. “We have served around 15 notices to the banks warning them to shut down activity and comply with the court order,” the official said.

The Authority officials have the entire proceedings of handing over notices videographed in view of the Supreme Court order dictating strict compliance. “This is being done to compile evidence that we have complied with the SC order of asking these units to shut shop without delay,” the ACEO said.

The new stance of the Authority is that serving notices on the commercial establishments is sufficient compliance of the apex court order. Thereafter, it is the responsibility of each violator to abide by the court ruling and the Authority cannot be prosecuted for wrongdoings of individual lessees. “We have issued a public notice informing about the SC order, and now responsibility will fall on the plot owner if unauthorized commercial activity continues to take place,” Kumar said. “Now, we will seal the premises and lease deed cancellation can follow,” he added.

However, the aggrieved lessees complain that initially the Authority encouraged them to function out of non-conforming areas. “Due to its inaction the lessees and sub-lessees are facing problems. While common citizens suffer, government officials responsible for perpetuating such situations go scot free,” said a customer visiting a bank in sector 19.

The Authority on its part claims that by offering 74 plots in different sectors, where the banks can move to, they have done their duty. However, this is hardly sufficient because it does not cater to the nursing homes and other commercial units that are being displaced. Moreover, even the banks cannot be expected to complete the process of purchasing the plot, constructing and moving into these buildings within the six weeks given by the SC, the bankers allege.

The Supreme Court had on December 5 ruled that all commercial establishments operating from residential premises must move out in two months. But on January 9, the court told the Authority to allot plots and ensure that all displaced banks are shifted to commercial areas in six weeks. The Authority on Wednesday had also announced a scheme for banks.

Vandana Keelor, TNN | Jan 28, 2012, 05.13AM IST

NOIDA: The newly-opened sector 37 flyover has solved two problems. Apart from reducing traffic congestion, it has also paved the way for the Noida Authority to begin a project to rid the city of clogged drains and open sewers. The move comes after repeated complaints from residents, particularly those living in sectors 29, 37 and neighbouring areas.

Residents had been constantly reminding the Authority that the waste generated by construction of the flyover and underpass had blocked the main drain of sector 37 as well as those in neighbouring areas.

The Authority now claims to have come up with a comprehensive plan to sort out the issue. The project will begin with fixing the drains in sectors 37 and 29 as an experiment.

“Depending on the result, the project will be extended to the rest of the city. Traps for silt and solid waste will be installed at regular intervals. Besides, catch basins and cleaning chambers are being created to make sure that the drain remains clear,” said Samakant Srivastav, Project Engineer, Noida Authority.

TNN | Jan 28, 2012, 05.20AM IST

Delhi/NCR

The monorail is all set to come to the crowded east Delhi. In an attempt to decongest the city and get more people to use public transport, the Delhi government has given an in-principle approval to a 10.8 km elevated monorail link between Shastri Park Metro station and Trilokpuri via Laxmi Nagar in east Delhi.

This is the first such link in the capital, which is expected to be functional by 2017. In the years to come, the monorail will also roll out in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Jalandhar in Punjab. The monorail is most successful in Japan. Malaysia and the United States of America, too, use monorail extensively in the crowded areas.

After giving the in-principle approval, chief minister Sheila Dikshit has now asked the Delhi State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation to prepare a proposal to be tabled in the cabinet for a formal approval. To be developed at a cost of approximately Rs 1,655 crore, the route will have 12 stations and passengers will be able to interchange for three Metro lines.

Delhiites will be able to interchange at Shatri Park Metro station for the Dilshad Garden- Rithala line; at Nirman Vihar Metro station for the Anand Vihar-Dwarka line, and at Trilokpuri Metro station for the under-construction Mukundpur-Yamuna Vihar line.

It is estimated that in 2017, the link will cater to a daily ridership of about 1.5 lakh. The fare structure has been proposed keeping in mind the cost of Metro tickets. For now, the fare is likely to be Rs 2.50 per kilometre. A state-ofthe-art, automatic fare collection system will be introduced with ticket vending and smart token systems.

Citing the monorail as a viable solution to decongest crowded areas, a statement from the chief minister’s office on Tuesday stated that the monorail has also been recommended as a mass transit in MPD 2021.

The CM’s statement goes on to add that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has favoured introduction of the monorail in such congested areas where Delhi Metro services are not feasible. It has also been pointed out that laying of the monorail lines is cheaper as compared to Metro lines.

The proposed monorail will be a straddle-type, elevated line that will be able to negotiate sharp curves and high gradient above the narrow roads. Light structures and columns can be placed in the limited median of roads. The rail can be located in crowded streets as it generates very little sound and is environment friendly.

An alignment of the proposed route was also discussed in the meeting chaired by the CM on Tuesday. The route will start from Shastri Park Metro station passing through Yamuna Pushta Road, Rajaram Kohli Marg, Geeta Colony, Patparganj Road, Nirman Vihar Metro station on Vikas Marg, Ganesh Nagar, New Patparganj Road, Sanjay Lake to terminate parallel to connect proposed Trilokpuri Metro station.

Source: The Times of India, New Delhi

Metro has helped ease commuter woes, but a lot still needs to be done.
What is the government planning?

We intend to have a monorail system in Noida once the Metro phase 3 expansion projects are complete in four years. We are currently working on two major expansion projects -from Noida City Centre to NH-24 and from Botanical Garden to Kalindi Kunj (south Delhi). We also have three more expansion plans for the Metro network.
Road transport remains a cause for concern…

We are working on a BRT system and are currently formulating a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to have GPSenabled buses. This will ease the perennial snarls and check accidents. A smooth flow of traffic can only be ensured with a good public transport system.
There is also the problem of Noida autorickshaws barred from crossing over to Delhi.
Our masterplan proposes integration of Noida with NCR towns. Already, a common agreement has been signed by the state government of the neighbouring states to develop a seamless public transport system and design a common policy regime for them. We are hopeful of having a more accommodating regime. We are also working on having autorickshaws fitted with fare metres.

SK DWIVEDI NOIDA AUTHORITY CEO

NOIDA: The newly-opened sector 37 flyover has solved two problems. Apart from reducing traffic congestion, it has also paved the way for the Noida Authority to begin a project to rid the city of clogged drains and open sewers. The move comes after repeated complaints from residents, particularly those living in sectors 29, 37 and neighbouring areas.

Residents had been constantly reminding the Authority that the waste generated by construction of the flyover and underpass had blocked the main drain of sector 37 as well as those in neighbouring areas.

The Authority now claims to have come up with a comprehensive plan to sort out the issue. The project will begin with fixing the drains in sectors 37 and 29 as an experiment.

“Depending on the result, the project will be extended to the rest of the city. Traps for silt and solid waste will be installed at regular intervals. Besides, catch basins and cleaning chambers are being created to make sure that the drain remains clear,” said Samakant Srivastav, Project Engineer, Noida Authority.

TNN | Jan 28, 2012, 05.20AM IST

NOIDA: In a complete U-turn from its aggressive stance of sealing all premises carrying out unauthorized commercial activity in residential and non-conforming areas, the Noida Authority on Friday put a brake on its drive. The Authority, instead, has decided to continue serving notices to defaulters to stop all commercial activity with immediate effect, presently threatening only action. “The Authority has decided to soften its stance following revised advice from our legal counsel,” said Anil Raj Kumar, additional CEO, Noida.

Amidst a lot of tension, several commercial establishments downed their shutters on Friday morning while Authority officials were closeted in a meeting till late afternoon. Later, a team of officials accompanied by cops started doing the rounds of Noida, handing out written notices. “Today, the notices are only being served to banks,” said an Authority official. The Authority’s first stop was sector 19 as it has over 20 bank branches functioning illegally out of residential premises. “We have served around 15 notices to the banks warning them to shut down activity and comply with the court order,” the official said.

The Authority officials have the entire proceedings of handing over notices videographed in view of the Supreme Court order dictating strict compliance. “This is being done to compile evidence that we have complied with the SC order of asking these units to shut shop without delay,” the ACEO said.

The new stance of the Authority is that serving notices on the commercial establishments is sufficient compliance of the apex court order. Thereafter, it is the responsibility of each violator to abide by the court ruling and the Authority cannot be prosecuted for wrongdoings of individual lessees. “We have issued a public notice informing about the SC order, and now responsibility will fall on the plot owner if unauthorized commercial activity continues to take place,” Kumar said. “Now, we will seal the premises and lease deed cancellation can follow,” he added.

However, the aggrieved lessees complain that initially the Authority encouraged them to function out of non-conforming areas. “Due to its inaction the lessees and sub-lessees are facing problems. While common citizens suffer, government officials responsible for perpetuating such situations go scot free,” said a customer visiting a bank in sector 19.

The Authority on its part claims that by offering 74 plots in different sectors, where the banks can move to, they have done their duty. However, this is hardly sufficient because it does not cater to the nursing homes and other commercial units that are being displaced. Moreover, even the banks cannot be expected to complete the process of purchasing the plot, constructing and moving into these buildings within the six weeks given by the SC, the bankers allege.

The Supreme Court had on December 5 ruled that all commercial establishments operating from residential premises must move out in two months. But on January 9, the court told the Authority to allot plots and ensure that all displaced banks are shifted to commercial areas in six weeks. The Authority on Wednesday had also announced a scheme for banks.

Times Noida Dt 28th, January, 2012