logo
Noida e-way arm to Delhi to be closed for pipe repairs till Mon

Noida e-way arm to Delhi to be closed for pipe repairs till Mon

Time of Indiaa day ago

Noida: Traffic on one carriageway of Noida Expressway will be diverted over the weekend as authorities undertake underground water pipeline repairs. The closure, effective from Friday 9pm to Monday 4am, will impact traffic flowing from Pari Chowk towards Delhi.
The diversion, which will be done near the bird feeding point adjacent to Dalit Prerna Sthal, will redirect traffic from Pari Chowk and other parts of Greater Noida and Noida to DSC Road, Botanical Garden, Kalindi Kunj and Sarita Vihar.
While the Delhi-Noida arm will remain unaffected, vehicles headed to Chilla Border and DND Flyway from Kalindi Kunj will be redirected through the Sector 37 and Botanical Garden route.
Due to these diversions, the DSC road, which connects different metro stations like Botanical Garden, Sector 18, 16, and 15, and shopping hubs, like Atta Market, is expected to face heavy traffic pressure.
DCP (traffic) Lakhan Singh Yadav said an 800 mm diameter underground water pipeline that passes about 10 metres from the central verge was damaged.
"For the repairs, a 30-metre stretch of the main carriageway will be closed over the weekend," he said.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Obtén audífonos premium sin pagar absolutamente nada
Top Audifonos
Undo
Special arrangements will be made for emergency vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines during the period. Commuters can flag complaints on the traffic helpline number (9971009001) if they are stuck in tailbacks on the key Delhi-Noida link road.
On average, five lakh vehicles use the expressway on weekdays, with two lakh vehicles alone from DND Flyway, one lakh each from Kalindi Kunj, Chilla Border and internal sectors.
With offices and schools largely closed, the traffic volume is lower on weekends.
Noida Authority's senior manager DL Verma said the damaged pipeline has led to leakages and disruption in water supply in nearby areas. "If the pipeline is not repaired promptly, it can damage the expressway. With monsoon approaching, we cannot delay the work as it involves digging, which could be challenging during the rains," Verma said, adding the work would be completed over the weekend to minimise traffic disruption.
In Feb, Noida Authority had diverted traffic in the expressway section for repairing the water pipeline.
Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with
Eid wishes
,
messages
, and
quotes
!

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The marvel and meaning aboard train to Kashmir's first journey
The marvel and meaning aboard train to Kashmir's first journey

Hindustan Times

time34 minutes ago

  • Hindustan Times

The marvel and meaning aboard train to Kashmir's first journey

Javid Ahmed wasn't expecting tourists at Srinagar station on a Saturday. 'We haven't had more than a handful of tourists for the past few weeks,' said the 29-year-old taxi driver. 'Business has been lean since Pahalgam.' But on a quiet Eid afternoon, a gleaming hulk of metal and glass rumbled into the deserted Srinagar station with over 500 passengers, catching shopkeepers, hawkers and taxi drivers — accustomed to mostly seeing train riders from within the valley — by surprise. This was a train from Jammu. The Vande Bharat Express from Katra to Srinagar made its inaugural journeys on Saturday, bridging Kashmir with India's rail network — the culmination of a decades-long project that overcame steep engineering challenges and evolving political considerations. Passengers emphasised that the Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat, which takes less than three hours for a 190km trip, would reorient travel between Kashmir and the rest of India, making what was either an expensive or arduous journey significantly cheaper, faster and more reliable. 'The highway routes between the two regions are at the mercy of weather and topography,' said Kishore Uppal, who works in Baramulla and lives in Jammu. 'The narrow roads mean you could be stuck for hours even if a bus breaks down on a bend,' said the 66-year-old, who bought a ticket as soon as bookings opened. 'Travelling between home and work has always been a challenge for me. Flights are too expensive, especially during peak seasons. This train changes that completely,' said Uppal. But the two Chennai-made train sets, which run between Katra and Srinagar twice daily, may offer more than logistical relief. For residents of Jammu & Kashmir, the train may serve as salve for a Union territory bruised after the April 22 attack, which devastated the region's tourism recovery. 'We had no idea the trains would be packed. When we heard that the first train was full, we flocked to the station,' said Ahmed. The train's significance was evident even before it pulled out of Katra station in Jammu. Stationed on Platform 1 in orange and black and draped with garlands, the train drew dozens of people who jostled for photos at the train's nose while families pushed past each other. Many came to the platform just to film the train, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off on Friday. The first train departed for Srinagar at 8.10am, the second at 2.55pm. Both were booked to capacity, with 507 passengers each — families, traders, students and even local filmmakers. Each train made just one stop before Srinagar: at Banihal, where Jammu meets Kashmir. On its journey, the train cuts through stunning terrain, slicing through steep mountains, treacherous gorges and lush valleys. The first half passes through numerous tunnels, but passengers spring to the windows the moment the train emerges, phones ready. It also zips over the 1,315m-long Chenab bridge, sandwiched between Himalayan rockfaces and overlooking the imposing river more than 350m below. Many said they hurriedly rearranged their Eid schedules just to board the train. 'We actually had different plans for Eid,' said Aarif Hussain, who lives in Srinagar and was travelling with his family. 'But when we heard the trains were launching on Saturday, we booked a round-trip. We took the Vande Bharat from Srinagar to Katra, then caught the next one for the return journey,' said the 25-year-old UPSC aspirant. 'The train really is a game-changer for us. Road travel was inconvenient because of the unpredictability and discomfort. People get caught in landslides for days. And a one-way ticket from Srinagar to Jammu can cost upwards of ₹25,000 at peak times,' he said. Kashmir has waited years for this train, said Hussain. Work on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) spanned over three decades, since the project was commissioned in 1994-95. Modi's inauguration of the 63km link between Katra and Sangaldan in Jammu was the final piece, giving Kashmir its first rail connection with the rest of the country. Previously, people wanting to traverse the two regions could only take local trains between Sangaldan town in Jammu and Baramulla in Kashmir. Azhar Hussain, who lives in Srinagar, said the link would simplify commerce between the regions. The flow of apples from Kashmir to Jammu would be vastly streamlined, said the 32-year-old, who works in agro-chemicals. 'When freight services begin on this link, they will hugely ease industry headaches. Right now, apples can take three or four days to reach Jammu. Add the significant temperature difference between the regions, which stresses the fruit further,' he said. 'Now, theoretically, a crate of apples should reach Delhi from Srinagar in 12 hours,' he said. The Vande Bharat Express from Delhi to Katra takes around eight hours. Jaspreet Sabharwal, a homemaker from Jammu travelling with her husband Vikram, a doctor who works in Srinagar, said she had waited 25 years for this line. 'I've been hoping for this connection since I got married. My husband's journeys will become much easier, and so will mine,' she said. A Jammu & Kashmir Police officer travelling with his family said the line will help foster business and friendships with other states. 'This line is culturally just as important as it is strategically or for trade,' he said, declining to be named. 'Look, the first step to integration is connectivity. There's little point discussing improved relations between Kashmir and other parts of India if travel is so difficult. This train and this line will, if nothing else, mean people come to Kashmir more freely, more often,' said Aarif Hussain. 'And that's an important first step.' The service will expand over the coming months depending on demand, said railway officials. 'The infrastructure to expand the service is in place. Customer demand will dictate how soon we roll out those options,' said a Jammu division railway official who requested anonymity. But in an otherwise jubilant Vande Bharat, nine-year-old Viraj Thakur insisted he had a valid complaint. 'There are so many tunnels. How do I look outside?'

Chaos at Hasanpura side entry to Jaipur Junction amid construction, lax security
Chaos at Hasanpura side entry to Jaipur Junction amid construction, lax security

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Chaos at Hasanpura side entry to Jaipur Junction amid construction, lax security

1 2 3 4 5 6 Jaipur: The Jaipur division of North Western Railways (NWR) recently opened the Hasanpura side entry for access to Jaipur Junction railway station. However, ongoing remodelling work has turned the entry and exit from this side into a major inconvenience for passengers. Access from the Hasanpura side is via a service lane leading to a foot-overbridge that connects to various platforms. With the lane closed for construction, vehicles are being directed to take the wrong side of the road to reach the station, creating confusion and safety concerns. When TOI visited the spot Friday, several passengers expressed frustration over the lack of clear signage and safe access. While X-ray baggage scanners at the entry were functional, there was no deployment of Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, raising further security concerns. "For trains arriving or departing from platforms 4 and 5, the Hasanpura side is the most convenient entry point. I went there this morning, but the service lane was closed due to construction. I was asked to drive on the wrong side to reach the station. I had to drop my daughter for the double-decker train—it was chaotic. NWR should at least put-up proper signboards if work is underway," said Jitesh Jhalani, a private employee. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Passengers trying to exit from the Hasanpura side also faced confusion. "I live in Sodala, and this side is the easiest for me. But because of the construction and lack of clear directions, there wasn't a single autorickshaw or mode of transport available here. If the railways have opened this entry, they should ensure it's fully functional," said Ramesh Singh, a passenger who arrived from Jodhpur Friday. Expressing frustration, passengers said the railways should properly inform the public if an entry point is blocked. "When we come to board a train, we usually keep a buffer of 15 to 20 minutes. But with issues like this, it creates panic," said Ramesh Saini, who was dropped near the closed service lane by an autorickshaw and had to walk nearly a kilometre to reach the foot-overbridge from the Hasanpura side. When contacted, Captain Shashi Kiran, chief public relations officer of North Western Railways, said, "If passengers are facing this issue, we will inspect the spot and take necessary steps to clear the bottlenecks and ensure the entry is properly accessible."

Engineer going home for Eid, 3 brothers visiting Vaishno Devi – Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat takes off with 530 on board
Engineer going home for Eid, 3 brothers visiting Vaishno Devi – Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat takes off with 530 on board

Indian Express

time3 hours ago

  • Indian Express

Engineer going home for Eid, 3 brothers visiting Vaishno Devi – Katra-Srinagar Vande Bharat takes off with 530 on board

ON SATURDAY morning, when the first Vande Bharat train with 530 passengers on board sounded the whistle at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi railway station here, it marked the beginning of a journey to Kashmir through various engineering marvels and three major geological thrust zones — Reasi, Murrie and Panjal. An electrically propelled engine hauled eight coaches of Vande Bharat on a historic trip from Katra to Srinagar railway station, a distance of 189 km, at 8:10 am sharp. Of this, 78 km falls between Banihal and Srinagar, and 111 km between Katra and Banihal. Nearly 97 km of this 111 km is through 27 tunnels, while another 7 km passes over 49 bridges, including the iconic Rail Arch Bridge over Chenab and the cable-stayed bridge over Anji Khad. As the train left behind Katra town and entered the first 330-metre tunnel (T33) towards Reasi, Mohammad Yaseen, a young geological engineer from Kashmir, exclaimed, 'I have worked on its excavation.' Yaseen was on his way home in Kashmir to celebrate Eid with his parents, wife and child. Currently working on a railway line in Rishikesh, he arrived in Katra Saturday morning and boarded the Vande Bharat for Srinagar. 'My brother, who is coming home by air, is still at the Jammu airport, while I have almost reached Srinagar,' he said. Many passengers were pilgrims and tourists to Vaishno Devi, who changed their plans at the last minute to take the historic ride. Deepak Gupta, a government teacher from Uttar Pradesh, who came for 'darshan' with two younger brothers, was among them. 'On seeing that the ticket was available for Saturday in the first Vande Bharat to Kashmir, we decided to visit the Valley,' he said. The three will visit the Vaishno Devi shrine near Katra on their return journey. Anil Bhat, an IT engineer who migrated to Jammu with his parents from Kupwara district following the eruption of terrorism in 1990, said he is going to Kashmir after 35 years. Pointing out that he was 10 when his parents left the Valley, he said he has some faint memories of his native place. Accompanied by his parents, wife and a teenage daughter, Anil said his father Mohan Lal Bhat, 77, was visiting Kashmir after 20 years. 'We just wanted to explore the train journey and the bridge,' he said, adding that they parked their car at the Katra railway station. 'We will stay in Srinagar for two-three days and I may visit my native place in Kupwara.' As the train moved against the backdrop of the Shivaliks, Pir Panjal and the Himalayas, over India's highest and first cable-stayed rail bridge over Anji Khad and the world's highest rail bridge over Chenab river, the passengers were in awe. 'Our engineers have made it possible with their courage and determination,' said Kalpna Khatri, a housewife going to Kashmir for vacation with her husband and son. 'We are very excited as we will be in Srinagar in just three hours. Last time when we took a car, it took almost eight hours.' The train also connects people and places in isolated and rugged Shivalik and Pir Panjal ranges, said Alam Din of Sopore, who was visiting Kashmir to celebrate Eid with his friends. 'Had it not been for the train, I would have celebrated Eid at home in Jammu,' he said. Alam also pointed out that the train will help people in need of medical help in Kashmir reach super-speciality hospitals outside the Valley. The Katra-Srinagar rail line forms an important part of the 272-km Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL), which has been built at a cost of Rs 43,780 crore. With heated windshields, advanced heating systems and insulated toilets, the train has been designed to overcome the region's challenging geography. During winter, a snow removal locomotive engine will move ahead to clear the tracks, while seismic dampers have been installed to absorb tremors, offering a safer and smoother journey in this high-risk zone, officials said. Scheduled to run six days a week, it has CORAS commandos deployed on the train, apart from dedicated staff for maintenance.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store