Footpath, trees near Dalit Prerna Sthal won't be harmed for e-way widening: Noida
Noida: Noida Authority clarified on Sunday that the footpath and trees along a 600-metre long and 5.5-metre wide stretch near Dalit Prerna Sthal will not be damaged during an upcoming project.
This comes a day after TOI reported that Authority plans to widen Noida Expressway from Sector 95 to DND Flyway loop by adding the 600-metre long and 5.5m wide stretch. Noida Authority is yet to issue a tender to hire a contractor for this project.
In a press note issued on Saturday, the Authority initially said that a consultant hired to explore options for widening the expressway recommended removing a one-metre-wide roadside track, a 1.4-metre-wide footpath and a 3.1-metre-wide paved tiled surface to expand the carriageway by 5.5 metres.
Noida's clarification came after concerns were raised on social media platform X, with users questioning the widening of the road and expressing fears about possible damage to greenery and pedestrian pathways.
Noida Authority deputy general manager (Civil) Vijay Rawal said that while some trees stand on the left side of the expressway and a footpath runs between the expressway and the Sthal, both will remain intact.
"The trees and footpath will not be harmed. On the left side of the footpath, there are tiles which will be removed to make way for the project," Rawal explained.
There are nearly 40-50 fully grown trees along the way. The footpath is also used by a number of visitors to Dalit Prerna Sthal who come to see the memorial and also to observe the birthday celebrations of Dr BR Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram, Mayawati and other Dalit stalwarts.
Nearly 1,000 people visit Dalit Prerna Sthal on a normal day, while the numbers increase to 10,000 on the birthday celebrations of stalwarts.
"What is the need for this widening and how many trees will be cut? If the pavement is damaged, how will commuters and visitors to the Sthal navigate?" asked Brajesh Sharma, a resident of Sector 78, in an X post. Another commuter said that the traffic pressure has immensely increased, leading to a choke point near the DND Flyway loop during peak hours. "The road widening is important, but that should not be conducted by harming the trees," he said.
Nearly five lakh vehicles use the Noida Expressway daily, with around two lakh entering the city via the DND Flyway and another one lakh each from Kalindi Kunj, Chilla Border and Noida's internal sectors.
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