Noida to use power backup for pumps to clear waterlogging

The directions were issued in view of the long traffic snarls across the city on Thursday due waterlogging in underpasses. Motorists were stuck for four to five hours at several locations, including the Model Town T-point, due to severe waterlogging.

The Noida authority’s additional chief executive officer Rakesh Kumar Mishra on Sunday directed his staff to ensure that water pumps deployed to drain rainwater from underpasses are functional. He has also directed the officials to provide power backup so that the pumps continue to work even during power cuts or outages.

Waterlogging under the Mahamaya flyover on Saturday. (Salman Ali/HT Photo)

The directions were issued in view of the long traffic snarls across the city on Thursday due waterlogging in underpasses. Motorists were stuck for four to five hours at several locations, including the Model Town T-point, due to severe waterlogging. The underpasses at City Centre, Sector 18, Rajnigandha, Mahamaya, Sector 37, Model Town T-point and the small culverts under Noida-Greater Noida Expressway remained waterlogged.

Water pumps were not functional because of electricity outage following the heavy rain.

“Even on Saturday, there was waterlogging under Mahamaya flyover that posed problems for motorists. I directed my staff to ensure that rainwater is drained out immediately. I have conducted an inspection of the site and will visit the site again, in the evening, to ensure that motorists do not face problems when there is a heavy volume of traffic on the roads,” Mishra said.

In 2016, the underpasses were not waterlogged because pumps were effectively used to drain the rainwater. However, motorists are experiencing a harrowing time this year.

At the Model Town T-point underpass, the worst affected area, motorists who tried to negotiate their way through the deep waters got stuck. The traffic police were also not to be seen anywhere, commuters said.

“We could not provide help to motorists at the Model Town underpass because we did not have adequate staff and vehicles,” said Layak Singh, traffic inspector, Noida traffic police.

The authority officials blamed the power cuts for waterlogging. “Now, we have set up generators at the Model Town T-point and other locations as well, so that amid power cuts, rainwater can be drained from the underpasses and traffic movement remains smooth,” PK Garg, project engineer of the Noida authority, said.

“I have instructed engineers to be in standby mode during rains and ensure that waterlogging does not take place in any area. I have asked them to use pumps at all locations to clear waterlogging,” said Mishra.