Noida: After months of dust and congestion, commuters may get some relief as Greater Noida Authority plans to open the Gaur Chowk underpass on Thursday for a three-day trial run.
Work on the 700-metre underpass, expected to ease congestion on Taj Highway that links Greater Noida West to the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Crossings Republik at one end and Surajpur at the other, started in July 2024 and was to be ready in 18 months.
Construction, however, dragged on as work had to be staggered to avoid morning and evening peak traffic hours. Restrictions on construction activities due to CPCB’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) every winter also slowed the project.
The delays meant commuters spent more time each evening navigating the city’s busiest intersection, which is lined with several malls and residential condominiums that are home to over five lakh residents. With tailbacks extending up to Parthala flyover, about 6.5 km away, many motorists earlier told
TOI that they were forced to spend at least 40-45 minutes idling in traffic. Since March, traffic has been diverted from the main carriageway to service lanes on both sides of Taj Highway.
“Diwali and Dhanteras shoppers can expect some relief if the underpass is opened,” Amarjeet Rathore, a resident of Gaur City, said.While Greater Noida Authority has yet to announce a date for its formal inauguration, officials said the underpass would be opened to traffic if traffic movement remains smooth during the trials. Initially, an Aug 15 inauguration was planned.Walls of the underpass, built at Rs 92 crore, have been decorated with paintings depicting nature and Gautam Buddha. Greater Noida Authority has also opened two U-turns near Gaur Chowk and resurfaced the road running parallel to the underpass. Last week, the Chaar Murti statue was reinstalled at the roundabout. It had been removed during construction of the project two years ago.
