Seven infra projects deferred to fund 30-km Noida metro

The Noida authority on Thursday said that it has deferred seven road infrastructure projects to fund the 30-km Noida-Greater Noida metro project. Rs.3,000 crore

The Noida authority on Thursday said that it has deferred seven road infrastructure projects to fund the 30-km Noida-Greater Noida metro project. Rs.3,000 crore that was earmarked for these seven projects will be spent on the metro project, which is a priority for the UP government.

Rs 3000 crore earmarked for seven infrastructure projects will be spent on the Noida-Greater Noida Metro project. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo)

Officials said that these seven projects will be executed in the next financial year (2017-18).

“Metro project is the most important project for Noida and Greater Noida because it will connect these areas with Delhi-NCR. Other projects will be taken up in the next financial year,” a Noida authority official said.

These seven projects include two elevated roads and five underpasses. Two elevated roads — Master Plan-I and Dadri road — were supposed to be constructed in the 2016-17 financial year. The two underpasses were proposed on Noida Expressway to ensure smooth commute for residents living along the expressway.

Three underpasses were proposed at major traffic intersections — Mamura, sector 47/100 and sector 71/72 — to manage traffic more efficiently.

“We deferred these seven projects for the metro because it (metro link) will boost the local economy and the realty sector immediately. Other seven projects can be executed in the next financial year,” an official with the authority said.

The 30-km Noida-Greater Noida metro link is expected to be operational by the end of 2017.

Officials conceded that the seven road infrastructure projects are of importance to decongest Noida roads, however, they said these projects will be executed in a phased manner now.

“As of now, work on the 5.8 km elevated road above Master Plan-II Road and Flex intersection is in full swing. Work on metro projects is also underway. As per the decision, we will begin work on these seven projects in the next financial year,” AK Goyal, chief project engineer (CPE) of the Noida authority, said.

The authority will complete paperwork related to these seven projects in the current financial year (2016-17).

“Paperwork such as preparing estimates, preparing the detailed project report, getting approvals and selection of construction agency takes a long time. By the time we finish work on the 30-km metro project, paperwork of these seven projects will be ready and work can be started on the ground,” Goyal said.

The Noida authority is facing funds crunch because realtors are also failing to pay land dues on time. “We will successfully fund all projects provided builders start paying their land dues without delay,” Manmohan Mishra, financial controller of the Noida authority, said.