Noida: Work on the Gaur Chowk underpass is nearing completion, but it’s likely to miss the Aug 15 deadline. While the main civil structure is ready, remaining work includes bituminous surfacing of the carriageway, finishing approach roads and kerb work. The project, being taken up at a cost of Rs 92 crore, also requires road markings and street lighting before the underpass can be opened to traffic.According to GNIDA deputy general manager Vijay Rawal, the Authority now plans to open the underpass to the public by Diwali.The upcoming 700-metre-long underpass, parallel to Taj Highway at Gaur Chowk, will decongest Greater Noida West’s busiest corridor. Gaur Chowk, a key traffic junction here, caters to over five lakh residents and sees heavy traffic from Noida, Surajpur, Crossings Republik and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway.Currently, traffic restrictions are in place on Taj Highway due to construction work underway on two sides. Both ends of the underpass are blocked, and commuters need to take left and drive on the service lanes to navigate the stretch.
The stretch sees extreme traffic congestion during peak hours
The underpass project took off in July 2024 with an 18-month deadline. GRAP restrictions, however, delayed the project. Work also had to be halted during peak traffic hours, further slowing progress. In Sept last year, work on the main slab was completed, allowing vehicles from Noida to move towards Gaur Chowk and Ek Murti without any diversion.The six-lane structure will run along the 60-metre road to provide a direct link between Greater Noida, Gaur City and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, allowing vehicles to bypass the intersection and reduce traffic load at the junction. Of the total length, 350 metres lie on each side of the chowk.Residents said the area gets extremely congested during peak hours, with commuters often having to spend long periods of time stuck in their cars as traffic crawls along the stretch.“The underpass will provide a much-needed alternative and help in reducing traffic jam,” Mayank Kumar, a resident of Gaur City, said.
