Noida: With the city bus service now operational, Greater Noida Authority has decided to develop 45 bus stands to strengthen public transport infrastructure and improve commuter facilities, under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.A private agency will be responsible for construction, operation and maintenance of the stands and a tender will be floated on Monday. The agency is expected to be hired within a fortnight.The stands will come up at key locations including Gaur Chowk, Ek Murti, Bisrakh, Pari Chowk, Surajpur, Collectorate, Swarn Nagari and other areas already covered under existing bus routes. While new shelters will be constructed at several sites, existing structures at others will be upgraded. The stands will be equipped with mobile charging points, CCTV surveillance and route information displays.The move follows the launch of the city bus service on June 12 with 45 buses, which was expanded to a fleet of 100 by June 15, coinciding with the start of commercial flight operations at Noida International Airport. Of the total fleet, Noida Authority has been allotted 50 buses and Greater Noida and Yamuna Authority 25 each.The three development authorities — Noida, Greater Noida and YEIDA — have already finalised routes. Buses currently run between 4am and 6pm, but timings are expected to extend to late night from July 1 as IndiGo expands connectivity from Noida International Airport to additional cities.In Noida, buses originate from Botanical Garden and serve Noida International Airport, Gaur Chowk, Surajpur Collectorate, Ghaziabad Bus Depot and Anand Vihar in Delhi. In Greater Noida, routes connect Gaur Chowk, Surajpur T-Point, Pari Chowk, Noida International Airport, GIMS, Swarn Nagari and Gautam Buddha University.YEIDA region is served by buses linking the airport with Rabupura, sectors 18, 20 and 21, Gaur City (Yamuna), Salarpur underpass, Galgotias University, Noida International University, Gautam Buddha University, GIMS, YEIDA office, Pari Chowk, Jagat Farm and Surajpur Court.Last week, Greater Noida Authority also invited resident feedback via a Google Form on new routes, modifications and service frequency. Officials said the responses would feed into an ongoing route rationalisation exercise.This is the second attempt at a city bus service in the region. In 2016, Noida Metro Rail Corporation introduced feeder buses on 11 routes across Noida, Greater Noida and Greater Noida West. The service was suspended after the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020 and formally discontinued in December that year, with authorities citing low ridership and mounting operational losses.
