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From now on, people will drive down to Noida even for a cup of tea without having to think twice. That is how Noida Authority CEO Sanjiv Saran describes the difference the 22 new flyovers being planned in Noida will make.

An Expression of Interest will soon be called in for the construction of new flyovers (a feasibility study for which has already been done). Meanwhile, work on the three flyovers initiated by the former Mayawati government (which ran into controversy over misappropriation of funds) is already in full swing.

There are plans to make six major arterial roads signal-free for smooth movement of traffic to and from Delhi and within Noida. RITES has already carried out a study and identified 15 sites along these prime roads that require grade separation through flyovers or underpasses and elevated roads.

Once these roads become signal-free, commuters will be able to reach Greater Noida from Delhi (through the DND flyover) without having to wait at traffic lights for there would be no signal for almost 30 km at a stretch. Design for four flyovers has already been finalised and the Authority is planning to issue tenders for their construction. The three flyovers under-construction include the one at Amity Crossing (Sector 44), Film City Trijunction (Sector 16A) and the one on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway (Sector 82). Chief Project Engineer L K Gupta says work on these flyovers is scheduled to be over by September 2007. Besides, three flyovers are also being considered on a priority basis he said.

While the state of surface infrastructure in Noida is already par excellence with wide, well-maintained roads, solar-powered traffic lights and signal-free roads (the eight-laned expressway is one such example) the absence of a mass transport system is a worrying factor, Saran feels.

State buses that run are few and far between while DTC and private buses run mainly on the more lucrative Delhi-Noida route. Because of this, several sectors remain isolated and secluded with a few autos and rickshaws trying to bridge the massive gap in demand and supply. While the Metro is scheduled to start from 2009, it will run only till Sector 32 and will need to be conn ected through feeder services so that its services are utilised to achieve optimum efficiency.

No signals
The six roads that are going to be signal free are

• The DSC (Dadri-Surajpur-Chalera) Road. Grade separators at Rajnigandha Chowk (underpass), Atta Chowk (underpass), and Golf Course crossing (underpass leading to half flyover)
• Masterplan Road I
• Masterplan Road II
• Captain SS Marg
• Express Highway: Flyover at Sector 14A.
• flyover between Sector 62 and 63 that will make Road No VI signal free