Noida plans another bridge to Capital

To ease the traffic flow on the narrow Kalindi Kunj Yamuna Bridge, the Noida Authority has decided to construct a new bridge next to it. The Rs 500-crore structure will be ready by December 2011.

To ease the traffic flow on the narrow Kalindi Kunj Yamuna Bridge, the Noida Authority has decided to construct a new bridge next to it. The Rs 500-crore structure will be ready by December 2011.

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The Kalindi Kunj Yamuna Bridge — also known as the Okhla Barrage — is an important link for people who live in Noida and east Delhi and work in south Delhi, Faridabad and Gurgaon.

The DND flyover is the only other connecting road between Noida and south Delhi. The flyover being a toll road, many people prefer using the Okhla Barrage.

“The two-lane bridge is unable to handle the present volume of traffic,” said Ajay Sahdev, superintendent of police (traffic), Noida.

The bridge was constructed in the 1980s when the volume of traffic was less than 10,000.

“In the next one year, the traffic volume is expected to cross one lakh vehicles,” said Sahdev.

Noida Authority CEO Mohinder Singh said a project report was being prepared for the new bridge.

“The alignment of the bridge will be decided in the next two months,” said Singh.

“The four-lane bridge will take 18 months to construct once the work contract is awarded.”

Traffic experts, however, say another bridge at Kalindi Kunj will only be a piecemeal solution. The problem of traffic at this stretch will add to the chaos on the Delhi side.

“Construction of a new bridge will attract more vehicles who currently use the DND flyway. It will create a chicken-neck situation at the Kalindi Kunj intersection, which is, till today, insufficient to handle such high volume of traffic,” said PK Sarkar, a professor in department of transportation, School of Planning and Architecture.

“The intersection will have to be redesigned,” he added.

A Noida Authority official, who did not want to be named, said, “The project is in the initial stage. Once we get the detailed project report we will discuss with Delhi government about the funds and other aspects.”

According to a RITES study conducted in 2007-08, over 61,437 vehicles pass through the Okhla Barrage every day.

“The two lane bridge is unable to cope with the present volume of traffic. The MCD’s toll window further obstructs traffic,” said Ajay Sahdev, superintendent of police (traffic), Noida.

It takes at least an hour to cross the bridge and the Kalindi Kunj traffic junction during peak hours on a working day.