Noida: Barely two weeks after a 1.6-km-long railway overbridge connecting Makoda and Tilapta villages was inaugurated, the top asphalt layer of the carriageway started to peel off after Greater Noida received the year’s first intense spell of rainfall on Thursday, exposing the poor quality of construction.The overbridge, built by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) to link Gaur Chowk with residential sectors such as Zeta 1, Eta 1 and Delta 1, was opened to traffic on June 24.After the rain ebbed on Thursday, commuters found that the road surface had worn off in patches on one of the eight lanes, exposing rough patches and leaving an uneven stretch on the bridge.
Repair works starts on damaged section on Friday
Manish Kumar, a resident of Supertech Eco Village, said rough patches had come up on the stretch from the Greater Noida Authority office towards Tilapta. “The bituminous surface failed to withstand even the first spell of monsoon rain. The road started deteriorating within days of its inauguration, raising questions about the quality of construction and whether proper inspections were carried out before it was opened,” he said.Kumar said he has written to DFCCIL and the ministry of railways, seeking an inspection of the site and immediate repairs.DFCCIL officials did not respond to requests for comment. However, a maintenance team reached the site after the damage was reported and carried out temporary repairs on the affected portion.Construction of the overbridge began in 2020 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2022. The project was delayed by the Covid pandemic before being completed last month. The bridge is regarded as a crucial corridor linking Greater Noida West with Greater Noida and the Greater Noida Authority office.
