Ghaziabad: Ajay Kumar Yadav was expecting a short autorickshaw ride after taking the metro from Dilshad Garden to catch a 2.15 pm flight from Hindon civil terminal to Bengaluru, where he was to attend a meeting. Instead, he found the journey on the stretch linking Mohan Nagar metro station to the terminal frustrating.“For nearly a kilometre, the road was broken. The ride became uncomfortable,” he said.While the metro connection provides seamless connectivity to the civil terminal from Delhi and Ghaziabad, making it the preferred transit point for airport-bound passengers, the 1km stretch of the Rajiv Colony Marg linking Mohan Nagar station on Delhi Metro’s Red Line towards Hindon terminal is currently riddled with potholes, worn macadam, uneven patches and overflowing sewage.The route, which not only serves as the terminal’s primary transit corridor but is also flanked by Vasundhara, Indirapuram, Sahibabad and Raj Nagar Extension, has remained in poor condition for nearly two years despite repeated complaints to local authorities.“We have written to the ward councillor several times,” said Devender Gupta, a resident of the area. “Every time we are told that the work will take time. About a month ago, one side of the road was repaired, and now we are waiting for our side to be taken up.”
The route not only serves as the terminal’s primary transit corridor but is also flanked by Vasundhara, Indirapuram, Sahibabad and Raj Nagar Extension
On Wednesday, TOI found leakage from damaged drains collecting along the road’s shoulders in pools, broken patches, wide craters and dust piled up along the road.Deepak Sharma (42), another resident, told TOI that pedestrians have repeatedly fallen crossing the uneven sections. “There are several dug-up portions, the surface is uneven, and dust is everywhere. After 6 pm, there are usually tailbacks on the road that make commuting very difficult,” he said.
Leakage from damaged drains collects along the road’s shoulders in pools
The situation, he said, worsens on Wednesdays when vendors and shoppers occupy portions of the road for a weekly market, leaving little space for vehicles and pedestrians. “There is too much crowd, and vehicles come to a crawl. For passengers heading to the airport, it creates unnecessary delays,” said Sachin Kapadiya (34).Auto-rickshaw drivers bear additional costs. Mohammad Sijan, who regularly ferries passengers between the metro station and airport, said damaged roads increase fuel consumption, maintenance expenses and travel time. “Most airport passengers use this route. The road condition affects our vehicles every day,” he said. “We had to increase fares because travelling on this road takes longer and causes wear and tear. Earlier, we would charge around Rs 100, but now we have begun asking Rs 150.”
Worn macadam makes the stretch prone to accidents, especially post-sundown
Local businesses report declining trade. An eatery owner who has operated on the route for two decades said customers increasingly avoid the area. “The road creates a negative impression. People do not want to stop here when the surroundings are dirty and difficult to access,” he said. “They invested so much in improving air connectivity at Hindon terminal. They should have spent some on this road, too.”The Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation could not be reached for comment.IndiGo currently operates eight flights daily from the terminal on routes to Varanasi, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata, while Star Air connects Adampur, Kishangarh and Nanded.
