Noida to change office timings to reduce traffic jams

The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration on Friday said that it will have different timings for all industrial units, multi-national companies (MNCs), BPOs and other offices located in Noida’s phase-III area.

The Gautam Budh Nagar district administration on Friday said that it will have different timings for all industrial units, multi-national companies (MNCs), BPOs and other offices located in Noida’s phase-III area.

Udyog Marg was made one way on January 23 to curb traffic jams during peak hours as it is a widely used route. (Burhaan Kinu/HT Photo)

The aim of the move is to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours. The step has been taken to support Delhi’s odd-even road rationing scheme that is aimed at bringing down the levels of pollution.

Noida had changed office timings in city’s phase-I (sectors 1 to 11) in January during the first round of the odd-even scheme.

“We now want to replicate the model of Noida’s Phase-I into city’s Phase-III area that has sectors 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 65, 66 and 67. Office timing will be decided in the meeting to be held on April 18,” said NP Singh, district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar.

Industrialists, entrepreneurs, corporate heads, realtors and the Noida authority officials among others will be part of the meeting that will finalise steps to reduce traffic congestion.

The administration had directed industrialists, MNCs and BPOs among others located in city’s Phase-I area from sectors 1 to 11 to open offices between 8:30 am and 9:30 am. Earlier, all offices in the area were opening at 10 am.

“Vehicular pollution had come down by 10% when different timings were implemented in limited areas in the city. We have called a meeting of stakeholders. People can give ideas that suit our demands,” said Singh. As per the administration, 25% vehicles were off road during Phase-I of odd-even scheme, which helped in reducing pollution by 10%.

However, administration officials said they are not implementing the scheme in Noida’s Phase-II area as wide roads of the area face no traffic snarls.

From January 23, the district administration made two routes - Udyog Marg and Harola - open for only one-way movement. Industrialists, however, are not too happy about the one-way restriction or change in office timings.

“Making two roads one-way and changing office timings has not had much impact because people don’t support such moves. People violate the one-way rule on Udyog Marg. The authority should improve basic infrastructure, deploy enough traffic officials and remove encroachment to ensure order on roads,” said Rakesh Katyal, patron of Noida entrepreneurs’ association.