Why Noida Authority Wants 30km Stretch Of Yamuna Pushta Road To Be Declared As National Highway

Noida: The city authority has urged the UP government to declare a 30 km stretch of the Yamuna Pushta Road, spanning from Sector 94 near the Delhi border at Kalindi Kunj barrage to Sector 150, as a national highway. The stretch runs parallel to the Noida Expressway and is linked to the Yamuna Expressway near Pari Chowk.According to a TOI report, the 30 km stretch is proposed to be developed as a new expressway to accommodate the expected surge in traffic due to the increasing corporate presence and the upcoming Noida International Airport, scheduled to start its operations in April next year.In a letter to the principal department of the Public Works Department (PWD), the Noida Authority emphasized that once the road is given the status of a national highway, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) can take responsibility for constructing the road, which currently remains underutilized due to its poor condition.The TOI report mentioned that the NHAI had backed out of the project in February, citing procedural delays. To declare a road a national highway, several approvals are required from both state and central governments, which can be a long-drawn process.Despite opening to the public in 2014, the 11 km stretch of the Pushta Road has developed rough patches and potholes. The TOI report also stated that last year, the Noida Authority proposed to develop the Pushta Road as a bypass to decongest the busy Noida Expressway, which handles approximately 5 lakh vehicles daily. Out of these, about 2 lakh vehicles enter the expressway from the DND Flyway, and 1 lakh each from the Chilla border, Kalindi Kunj, and other points like sectors 15, 16, 18, and 37.Additionally, the Noida Authority proposed to develop the stretch as either an eight-lane road or a six-lane elevated corridor. In November last year, Noida Authority CEO Lokesh established a committee under Additional CEO Sanjay Khatri to conduct a feasibility study. The committee, working with the irrigation department and NHAI, submitted a detailed report covering aspects such as elevated road segments, land availability, sectors involved, and traffic projections.The cost of constructing the elevated road was estimated to be around Rs 15,000 crore. In comparison, repairing and widening the existing road is estimated to cost Rs 400-500 crore, the TOI report added.