The board meeting of the Noida Authority has given in-principle approval for constructing another expressway that will connect Noida and Greater Noida. The upcoming expressway will run along the Yamuna River between Noida and Greater Noida. The Authority is evaluating two expressway design possibilities, which include either an eight-lane ground-based route or a six-lane elevated structure.
Why Do People Need A Second Expressway?
A second expressway becomes necessary as the Noida International Airport is expected to increase traffic, with operations forecast to begin this year. Senior officials have been exploring a new path to ease congestion on the existing 25km Noida Expressway that carries increasing numbers of residents due to expanding residential, industrial, and commercial zones. The high congestion levels in peak times disturb officials who predict it will reach congestion levels similar to those found on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway, as reported by Times of India.
The Noida Authority seeks the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)’s collaboration on the project which requires the road to gain national highway status. During the March 28 board meeting, Manoj Kumar Singh, acting as Board Chair and Chief Secretary, proposed that Noida, Greater Noida, and Yamuna Expressway authorities should start the construction work if NHAI does not proceed with the project. NHAI received the expressway project proposal in November 2023 lthough the agency declined to participate in building the project.
The proposed expressway will link Okhla Barrage with the Yamuna Expressway through the area known as Hindon-Yamuna doab. Once this project gets operational, it will solve traffic-related issues. Apart from this, it will save travel time and make the journey smoother. The existing four-lane road stretches over 11 kilometers from Okhla Barrage to an irrigation drain over 11 kilometers and runs next to essential sectors. The Hindon-Yamuna Doab Bund road extends 14 kilometers more, along the additional sectors.
The new expressway will feature access points and loops along with underpasses that maintain continuous traffic movement. Sector 168 has been established as one of the vital spots for interchange with the Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad (FNG) expressway. The expressway at Sector 150 will connect with the main road running between Sector 149A and Sector 150.
