The Gaur Chowk underpass in Greater Noida West has opened for a trial run, reducing the time taken by vehicles to cross the junction from about 15 minutes to nearly one minute, while reported uneven sections on the concrete road have prompted an inspection by the Greater Noida Authority.
The six-lane underpass was opened after a trial run was initiated by Greater Noida Authority senior manager Prabhat Shankar in the presence of police officials. It is intended to improve movement between Bisrakh and Tigri and ease congestion for commuters travelling through Gaur Chowk.
According to Navbharat Times – Noida, the junction is used by an estimated 50,000 vehicles every day. The underpass is expected to benefit residents and commuters from Gaur City, Greater Noida West, Ghaziabad and surrounding areas. Vehicles travelling between Bisrakh and Tigri can now use the underpass instead of negotiating the junction and taking longer diversionary movements.
The underpass is 700 metres long and has been built at a reported cost of Rs 92 crore. The new route is expected to reduce the distance travelled by some vehicles by about 1.5 to 2 km. The report estimates that the resulting fuel saving could amount to approximately Rs 35 crore a year, based on the volume of traffic using the junction.
The trial opening has also brought attention to the quality of the road surface. Some drivers reported that vehicles were experiencing jolts while travelling through the underpass. The report said that sections of concrete had remained on parts of the road, affecting the smoothness of the ride. Questions about the surface were also raised on social media.
The road inside the underpass has been constructed with concrete. The report quoted experts as saying that concrete roads do not always have the same finish as bitumen roads, although leftover concrete on the surface was identified as one reason for vehicles jolting. The authority has said that such deficiencies are being identified during the trial and will be corrected.
Greater Noida Authority Additional Chief Executive Officer Sumit Yadav inspected the underpass after concerns were raised about its quality. He said that the underpass had been built well, but acknowledged that concrete remained at some locations on the road and would be removed. He added that the trial run was continuing and that deficiencies identified during the process would be addressed.
The underpass also includes arrangements intended to prevent rainwater from entering the road section. Its painted interiors have added to the visual finish of the facility, according to the report. The authority’s next step is to complete the trial process and rectify the shortcomings found during inspection before regular operations are finalised.
