Own vehicle best transport option

Lack of a proper transport system and traffic jams make commuting a nightmare in Noida. Peeyush Khandelwal reports.

In the absence of an effective public transport system in the city to cater to the needs of burgeoning population, an average Noida resident has to spend considerable part of his income on transport. A good number of residents use own vehicles for commuting.

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Ranked among the most developed and planned cities, Noida's transport options include cyclerickshaws, autos, city bus service, Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and the latest Delhi Metro trains.

The regional transport department figures, till July this year, reveal that about 28 four-wheelers and 55 two-wheelers are added daily to the city roads. The number of two-wheelers and cars constitutes around 91 per cent of the total vehicles registered with the regional transport department till July 2010.

The UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), which also operates city buses, has connectivity to Delhi only on seven fixed points and fixed routes. The DTC runs 95 low-floor non-AC buses to various destinations -- Noida Phase-II other sectors and Delhi areas like Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi Railway Station, ISBT and Mehrauli.

Combined, the DTC and UPSRTC buses bear a daily commuter load of around 74,000-odd passengers.

Commuting to smaller distances is a big problem for the residents.

Sushil Aggarwal, a resident of Sector 12, often hires a cyclerickshaw to travel to a nearby market by paying about Rs 20.

Aggarwal says, "I can hire an auto to the Sector 18 market but they ask anything between Rs 70 and Rs 100. I don't use city buses as they are mostly over-crowded, erratic and not a worth mode of transport to take the family for an outing," Aggarwal said. He also uses his car.

The Delhi Metro brought a glimmer of hope for those commuting to Delhi. But there are no feeder buses to ferry residents to nearest stations.

"It's really a struggle during peak hours to reach a Metro station. All your energies are spent on commuting as there are not feeder buses. Auto drivers charge according to their whims and fancies as meters are not installed in them," said Rahul Sharma, a Sector 71 resident.

MNC executives and staff, who constitute a large segment of commuters, prefer to use own conveyance. BPO offices provide cabs so that their employees reach in time and safe.

Even those travelling to the Delhi airport or railway stations are confused with the options available.

"If you have to go to the airport, first hire an auto to Delhi border and then hire another to the destination. If you go for a costly option, hire a private taxi or else ask a family member to drop you. There is no direct connectivity. Radio taxis are still not prevalent here," said Anup Khanna, a resident of Sector 28.

More autorickshaws with meters is the need of the hour but regional transport officials have stopped giving new permits. Due to certain bottlenecks, plying of autos under the NCR travel agreement has also not been materialised so far.

Commuters feel the need for a fast, comfortable and affordable means of transport which connects entire Noida. Mini AC buses, metered autos and more taxis could be an option to discourage people from using their own vehicles and also reduce congestion on city roads.

Grillsession

'Complain about errant autos'

Lalji Chaudhary

Regional Transport Officer

Is there no way auto fares can be fixed?

Auto fares are fixed on per kilometre basis. In case of any difficulty or complaints of overcharging, commuters must contact the Assistant Regional Transport Officer who will take action. Presently, we have stopped issuing permits for autos to avoid congestion in Noida. A committee constituted by the district magistrate will decide on the number of autos to be allowed.

Will we have more Metro feeder buses?

State transport undertakings decide on starting a feeder bus service. Earlier, the proposal got stuck due to division of kilometres between the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Now, it is up to the Noida Authority and UP transport corporation to decide on the issue.

Are there any directions for corporate establishments to provide transport to their staff?

It would be welcome if corporate units introduce their own transport system. But most are not willing as it involves heavy investment and maintenance costs. We provide 50 percent rebate in passenger tax if companies provide exclusive transport to their staff. The scheme was launched in 2009.

(As told to Peeyush Khandelwal)

Casestudies

'We walk 1 km to catch a bus'

Colonel (retd) S.S. Thakur

Senior Citizen Complex, Greater Noida

Like the nearly 450-odd families of Senior Citizen Complex, Colonel (retd.) S.S. Thakur is helpless and has no option but to use his own car to reach central locations within Noida or the nearest Botanical Garden Metro station.

Thakur says the frequency of local buses is poor and the complex has been ignored as only a few buses pass along the route. Elderly residents of the complex have to walk around a kilometre to the Kasna petrol pump crossing and wait for a bus.

"The frequency of city buses is inadequate. So, people have no option to shell out around Rs 150 to hire an auto and reach the nearest Metro station. A bus takes around one-and-a-half hours to reach central locations in Noida," Thakur said who now prefers to use his own car even for short distances.

"One can feel the plight of those senior citizens who cannot afford the auto fare and don't have a car. The authorities should look into the problem at the earliest," he said.

(As told to Peeyush Khandelwal)

'Women have a tough time'

Dr. Priya Sharma

Greater Noida resident

Dr. Priya Sharma, an assistant professor at Dayal Singh College (Evening) in the Capital, says she feels exhausted every time she travels from Greater Noida to Delhi or vice versa.

"During afternoons, there are no chartered buses and I have to change four to five buses to reach my destination. It takes me around two-and-a-half hours to reach college and the thought of the return journey gives me jitters," Sharma says.

Although she has started learning, she says she would prefer not to drive because of the heavy rush of vehicles in the city.

"If I want to travel by the Metro, the UP State Regional Transport Corporation bus alights passengers at the Sector-37 bus stand in Noida," she says. The Botanical Garden Metro Station is around 400 metres away, she adds.

This is just one instance of the painful journey undertaken by thousands of women commuting to various parts of Delhi from Noida or Greater Noida everyday.

(As told to Kapil Datta)