As a result of daily traffic volume of more than 1.5 lakh vehicles proving too much for the two connecting routes between Noida and Delhi as a reason the Noida Authority is looking to construct another six-lane bridge across the Yamuna.
Furthermore, officials said that the new bridge will run parallel to the Kalindi Kunj bridge near Okhla Barrage and will benefit commuters travelling between Delhi, Noida and Faridabad. While Senior Noida Authority officials confirmed that Pune-based Central Power Water Research Station (CPWRS) has been handed the charge of conducting a feasibility study of the proposed bridge. CPWRS is studying the site and the final model for the project is expected to be ready in a couple of months and that the construction will be completed two years after work begins.
According to an official, during peak hours, there are jams on DND Flyway and Kalindi Kunj bridge. The existing bridge has two lanes on either side, and is clearly insufficient to deal with a traffic volume of close to 1.5 lakh vehicles per day. The proposed bridge will be 575 metres long and have three lanes on either side. Factfully, the project is expected to cost around Rs 300 crore and has already been incorporated in the Noida Master Plan 2031. A central sidewalk and pedestrian pathways will be constructed on the new bridge.
Officials said, that the initial plan was to construct a bridge between Kalindi Kunj bridge and the proposed Metro line, but a CPWRS study found that sedimentation from Okhla Barrage would hinder construction.
"These clearances are required when construction over a river is undertaken. They will build the bridge to the right of the Metro line. One thing they need to consider is that the curve of the proposed Metro line will intersect the bridge, and modalities of construction will have to be looked into accordingly. The location of Metro stations will have to be shifted slightly. Their team will visit CPWRS, Pune, next week to finalise the details. Then, they will send their plans to DMRC for further clearances, but they realize beforehand that there are no problems.
The daily traffic volume cannot be reduced but atleast can be made easily to travel without creating chaotic situation and a bridge would surely play a dominant role in this case.
(AW:Samrat Biswas)
