Since the road towards Phase II of Noida from the Sector 37 crossing was closed to traffic for work related to the twin flyover-underpass project, the slip road in front of the petrol pump provided the only relief for vehicles moving in that direction.
“However, the slip road deteriorated over a period of a few months because of the large number of vehicles using it on a daily basis,” said A K Goel, chief maintenance engineer of Noida Authority. “Moreover, the digging work related to the underpass and the flyover further eroded the soil beneath the road thereby forcing us to close it for immediate repair work,” added Goel.
Despite the Noida Authority closing the road for bigger vehicles, four-wheelers still went ahead despite the risk of falling down the steep slopes off the road into the trenches dug for the underpass. This forced the Authority to close the road for all vehicular movement and undertake maintenance work on the stretch.
After completion of maintenance work, the Authority will open the road again. “We have nearly completed the maintenance work for this stretch. It will take around 25-30 days to finish the remaining work. The road will be open to vehicles again towards the end of February,” said Goel. While the opening of the flyover has eased the flow of traffic moving from the Kalindi Kunj side towards the Dadri road, the opening of the slip road would ease vehicular movement towards Phase II of Noida and Chhalera village.
The slip road is particularly useful for those operating small businesses on the side of the Chhalera village along the petrol pump. Traders had been complaining that business had virtually slumped since the day this slip road was closed from the side of Sector 37 which restricted customers coming from one side. The opening of the road will allow vehicles to refill their tanks at the petrol pump at this junction as well.
