Driving time between Noida and east Delhi is longer today than it was two years ago because traffic volume has gone up. The main chokepoint is a 5km stretch from Chilla border to Mahamaya flyover. Planners had anticipated this more than a decade ago and proposed a solution. But for that to take shape, you must wait at least three more years.
The road was proposed in 2012 by Noida Authority – a 5.5km long, six-lane flyway that would run along the Shahdara drain
Why 3 years?
Because that’s the time it will take to build Chilla elevated road, which will let you bypass the Mayur Vihar-Mahamaya chokepoint with entries and exits for internal Noida traffic.But mind you, three years is the best-case scenario. You can only hope to take that road in 2027 if construction begins this year. As of now, there are no guarantees that it will
Initial clearance took 6 yrs
A feasibility study was completed in 2013. Approval from Delhi govt’s irrigation and flood control department came on Dec 4, 2018. Another sanction it needed, from the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre, a Delhi Development Authority agency that clears projects that could impact traffic in Delhi-NCR, was received on Dec 14, 2018
Lockdown came next
UP’s Bridge Corp Ltd was handed the job of building the elevated road. The cost was pegged at 605cr, which was to be shared equally by Noida Authority and PWD. On Jan 25, 2019, CM Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation stone. Work started with capital from Noida Authority. Several pillars were built before the Covid lockdown stopped it in March 2020.
Then funds were a problem
Work resumed briefly in 2020 after restrictions were lifted but stopped soon because the PWD didn’t release its share of funds. At a Noida board meeting in Sept 2021, directions were issued to draw funds from PWD for the project. Yet, they never came. But another problem had cropped up. The 605cr cost estimate had become redundant.
Why did cost escalate?
The Bridge Corp came up with a revised estimate of
1,076cr for the project in April 2022. Reason? There was belated realisation that a change in construction design was necessary to accommodate a CNG pipeline along the road’s alignment. Noida Authority rejected the revised cost, following which Bridge Corp came up with a lower estimate of 912 crore in Sept 2022. Other reasons were cost of material and labour, which went up after the pandemic. Noida Authority got the cost examined by a third-party consultant, which reduced it to 801 crore.
What changed in design?
From single pillars on which the elevated road was supposed to stand, a portal frame structure (two pillars supporting the viaduct) would be used to make space for the pipeline.
What changed in funding?
State govt approved a revised budget of 787 crore in June 2023. The new arrangement was that 50% of PWD share would now come from central Gati Shakti funds and Noida Authority would pay the other 50%. But Bridge Corp, which was asked to issue tenders, came back to Noida and said this would not be enough. It wanted the budget to be increased to 940 crore, saying 18% GST and 12.5% contractor’s charges would have to be factored in. In Nov 2023, it went ahead and issued a tender pegging construction cost at 680 cr.
Then why hasn’t work started?
It’s the cost because all proposals so far have overshot the approved budget of 787 crore. Six companies applied, four of whom were disqualified. The two eligible bids that emerged from the process last month were from DR Agrawal (828 crore) and L&T (917 crore). Negotiations failed, and a fresh tender was issued on Feb 28. The last date to submit bids in this tender is March 30. Technical bids will be opened on April 2. Should a bidder be found, the firm will get three years to complete the project and will be in charge of maintaining it for five years.
A unique case
Fund crunch is unusual for infrastructure projects in Noida because Noida Authority makes budgets and funds them. This one is different because the project was initiated by the state with a 50% PWD stake. And PWD released no funds.
The road was proposed in 2012 by Noida Authority – a 5.5km long, six-lane flyway that would run along the Shahdara drain
Why 3 years?
Because that’s the time it will take to build Chilla elevated road, which will let you bypass the Mayur Vihar-Mahamaya chokepoint with entries and exits for internal Noida traffic.But mind you, three years is the best-case scenario. You can only hope to take that road in 2027 if construction begins this year. As of now, there are no guarantees that it will
Initial clearance took 6 yrs
A feasibility study was completed in 2013. Approval from Delhi govt’s irrigation and flood control department came on Dec 4, 2018. Another sanction it needed, from the Unified Traffic and Transportation Infrastructure (Planning & Engineering) Centre, a Delhi Development Authority agency that clears projects that could impact traffic in Delhi-NCR, was received on Dec 14, 2018
Lockdown came next
UP’s Bridge Corp Ltd was handed the job of building the elevated road. The cost was pegged at 605cr, which was to be shared equally by Noida Authority and PWD. On Jan 25, 2019, CM Yogi Adityanath laid the foundation stone. Work started with capital from Noida Authority. Several pillars were built before the Covid lockdown stopped it in March 2020.
Then funds were a problem
Work resumed briefly in 2020 after restrictions were lifted but stopped soon because the PWD didn’t release its share of funds. At a Noida board meeting in Sept 2021, directions were issued to draw funds from PWD for the project. Yet, they never came. But another problem had cropped up. The 605cr cost estimate had become redundant.
Why did cost escalate?
The Bridge Corp came up with a revised estimate of
1,076cr for the project in April 2022. Reason? There was belated realisation that a change in construction design was necessary to accommodate a CNG pipeline along the road’s alignment. Noida Authority rejected the revised cost, following which Bridge Corp came up with a lower estimate of 912 crore in Sept 2022. Other reasons were cost of material and labour, which went up after the pandemic. Noida Authority got the cost examined by a third-party consultant, which reduced it to 801 crore.
What changed in design?
From single pillars on which the elevated road was supposed to stand, a portal frame structure (two pillars supporting the viaduct) would be used to make space for the pipeline.
What changed in funding?
State govt approved a revised budget of 787 crore in June 2023. The new arrangement was that 50% of PWD share would now come from central Gati Shakti funds and Noida Authority would pay the other 50%. But Bridge Corp, which was asked to issue tenders, came back to Noida and said this would not be enough. It wanted the budget to be increased to 940 crore, saying 18% GST and 12.5% contractor’s charges would have to be factored in. In Nov 2023, it went ahead and issued a tender pegging construction cost at 680 cr.
Then why hasn’t work started?
It’s the cost because all proposals so far have overshot the approved budget of 787 crore. Six companies applied, four of whom were disqualified. The two eligible bids that emerged from the process last month were from DR Agrawal (828 crore) and L&T (917 crore). Negotiations failed, and a fresh tender was issued on Feb 28. The last date to submit bids in this tender is March 30. Technical bids will be opened on April 2. Should a bidder be found, the firm will get three years to complete the project and will be in charge of maintaining it for five years.
A unique case
Fund crunch is unusual for infrastructure projects in Noida because Noida Authority makes budgets and funds them. This one is different because the project was initiated by the state with a 50% PWD stake. And PWD released no funds.