Noida: Three years after building a flyover to ease traffic on Vikas Marg, Noida Authority has now approved a six-lane underpass at Parthala Chowk on Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad Expressway corridor to address persistent bottlenecks at one of the city’s busiest intersections.Vikas Marg, connecting sectors 52-71 to Gaur Chowk, meets FNG Expressway, which links NH-9 and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway to 7x sectors, Dadri Main Road and Phase 2 areas at Parthala roundabout. The convergence of multiple traffic streams at the roundabout leads to heavy congestion during peak hours, particularly for commuters travelling between Noida and Greater Noida West.In 2023, Authority inaugurated the 600-metre Parthala flyover — the city’s first cable-stayed bridge — to improve east-west connectivity. While it reduced congestion on Vikas Marg, the roundabout and FNG road still see bottlenecks every evening.The proposed underpass will have three lanes in each carriageway and run approximately 710 metres, with 280-metre approach roads on either side. Two sumps and a pumping system will manage rainwater drainage. The project is estimated to cost Rs 80 crore and is expected to be completed in 18 months.Noida Authority general manager AK Arora said the underpass would be built using diaphragm-wall technology and RCC construction. “The technology will help maintain the stability of surrounding land and existing infrastructure during excavation. Once completed, the underpass is expected to allow uninterrupted movement of vehicles on the FNG Corridor and reduce traffic jams and stoppages at Parthala Chowk,” he said.Officials said, once complete, the underpass will complement the existing flyover, giving Parthala Chowk intersection a layered traffic solution — vehicles crossing east-west on Vikas Marg using the flyover, and those on FNG corridor moving through the underpass below. Residents of sectors 119, 120, 121 and 122, as well as Chhijarsi and Sorkha villages, are expected to benefit from improved connectivity and reduced travel times.“The traffic on FNG during peak hours is unbearable. Vehicles barely move for hours, especially near the Parthala junction. An underpass at the roundabout is expected to ease the commute,” said Gaurav Kumar, a resident of Sorkha village.In Feb, Noida Authority proposed closing two arms of the roundabout and adding two U-turns to curb frequent wrong-side driving at the intersection. Officials had told TOI that dedicated U-turns would be developed on Vikas Marg near Homes 121 and on FNG Road. Authority had also proposed narrowing the roundabout to accommodate a higher volume of traffic descending from Vikas Marg.
