Noida: Pockmarked with potholes, broken edges and rough patches, but road resurfacing across the city has been put on hold, at least for now.In Feb, the Noida Authority approved a Rs 250-crore plan to resurface about 150 km of road network across the city and set an April deadline to complete the repairs. On Tuesday, officials said tenders have been floated and contractors finalised, but road repair work could not begin due to a disruption in bitumen supply. They said the shortage was linked to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which affected procurement and held up resurfacing projects.“We are aware that some roads need repairs. However, a shortage of bitumen supply is affecting road resurfacing work. The ongoing conflict in West Asia has affected procurement and stalled the resurfacing work. We hope the situation will normalise in a month and the redevelopment work will resume,” said a Noida Authority official.
Bitumen, a petroleum-based material, is a key component in road construction. It acts as a binder that holds aggregates together, provides waterproofing and ensures flexibility. In resurfacing works, it is used to lay a fresh asphalt layer over existing roads, sealing cracks, improving surface quality and extending the lifespan of the carriageway.Amit Gupta, a resident of Sector 77, said roads in several areas, including sectors 62, 12 and 22, are in disrepair. “I have noticed that officials in Gurgaon have started resurfacing works there. How do they procure bitumen while Noida does not?” he asked.The 5.5-km Dadri-Surajpur-Chhalera (DSC) Road beneath the Bhangel Elevated Road — riddled with potholes, loose debris and dust patches — was due for repair after a rap from air quality regulators, but the work remains on hold. Elsewhere, rough stretches in Film City and sectors 37, 62 and 137 are also awaiting attention. A 100-metre patch outside the T-Series office in Film City is among the worst affected, with commuters reporting the road surface has come off entirely. Near the Botanical Garden bus stand, a broken speed breaker forces motorists to brake sharply or swerve around craters, raising the risk of accidents.Laxmi Kant, a Sector 137 resident, flagged the issue on X, tagging Noida Authority. “Is it that only Noida Expressway users need safety measures? Citizens using sector roads are not entitled to a safe commute? We are requesting repair of the road in Sector 137 as it is a safety hazard,” he posted.Metal crash barriers on e-wayNoida Authority will soon install metal crash barriers on both sides of the service lanes on the expressway, keeping in mind the anticipated surge in traffic once the international airport in Jewar becomes operational. The absence of crash barriers along the service road currently raises the risk of vehicles falling off the carriageway in case of accidents. Authority general manager AK Arora said a budget of Rs 43 crore has been approved, and a tender has been issued. The official added that damaged barriers on the main carriageway would also be repaired.
