Greater Noida: Five years after the launch of the Smart Village programme, several settlements within the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority’s jurisdiction continue to face deteriorating road conditions, raising fresh concerns over whether basic civic infrastructure is keeping pace with the region’s rapid urbanisation.
The issue has renewed attention on the challenge of delivering equitable development as urban expansion increasingly absorbs surrounding rural communities. The Smart Village roads were intended to form part of a broader infrastructure upgrade covering drainage, sanitation, public spaces, digital connectivity and community amenities. However, residents across multiple villages say damaged internal roads remain among the most visible shortcomings of the programme, affecting daily mobility and limiting access to essential services. With the monsoon intensifying, uneven road surfaces and persistent potholes have become more than an inconvenience. Waterlogging on poorly maintained stretches has complicated movement for commuters, schoolchildren and older residents, while emergency response vehicles and public transport operators are also reported to face delays in several locations.
Urban planners note that resilient local road networks are critical to climate adaptation, particularly as erratic rainfall increases pressure on ageing infrastructure. The concern reflects a wider planning challenge emerging across the National Capital Region, where villages located inside expanding development zones are experiencing significant growth in traffic volumes. Once designed for limited rural movement, many internal roads now support construction vehicles, commercial transport and residents commuting to nearby housing sectors and industrial hubs. Without structural upgrades, recurring repairs are unlikely to provide lasting improvements. Infrastructure specialists argue that road redevelopment should be integrated with underground utility networks and stormwater management systems. Coordinating these works can reduce repeated excavation, improve construction quality and lower long-term maintenance costs.
Such planning also supports more sustainable urban growth by minimising disruptions and improving the durability of public assets. Officials associated with the Greater Noida authority have indicated that infrastructure projects under the Smart Village initiative are progressing in stages, with implementation linked to technical evaluations and approved funding. According to administrative sources, pending Smart Village roads and other civic works will be taken up progressively as development schedules advance across identified villages. For residents, however, the pace of delivery remains the central concern. As Greater Noida continues to attract investment in housing, manufacturing and commercial development, the quality of infrastructure in adjoining villages is becoming increasingly important to the region’s long-term economic resilience. Balanced urban growth depends not only on creating new real estate but also on ensuring existing communities receive reliable public infrastructure that supports safe mobility, environmental resilience and inclusive access to opportunities.
