These roads in Noida could test your driving skills
From the busy Botanical Garden bus stand to Okhla Bird Sanctuary and Atta Peer near Sector 16 Metro station, roads are now pockmarked with potholes, making daily travel treacherous for commuters.
One of the worst-affected areas is a speed breaker near Botanical Garden, which has broken apart after recent rains, putting to test the driving skills of residents who have paid lakhs to purchase homes in the city.
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On average, a 1,000 square feet home in Noida costs anywhere between Rs 90 lakh and Rs 1 crore, excluding registration costs.
But the infrastructure in the city of highrises has not been to match up.
"The potholes not just slow down traffic but also increase the risk of accidents," said Gaurav Kumar, a regular commuter from Sector 37 to Knowledge Park.
"Repair work is either delayed or shoddy."
Patches on the approach road near Okhla Bird Sanctuary, a key gateway for traffic entering Noida from Delhi, has been washed way. Stagnate rainwater on this stretch, worsen the wear and tear caused by heavy traffic from areas like Kalindi Kunj and Okhla.
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Further down in central Noida, the road between Atta Peer and Sector 16 Metro station has developed multiple cracks and patches. No repairs mean they are left to deteriorate with each downpour.
Experts say poor drainage and lack of long-term planning are at the root of the problem. "Water seeps into the road and weakens the asphalt," said Anurag Kulshrestha of TRAX, a road safety NGO. "Without proper drainage, rainwater lingers and breaks down the road's surface."
Noida Authority told TOI that repairs were on the way. "We are identifying damaged spots and will begin patchwork soon," deputy general manager (civil) Vijay Rawal said.
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