Latest news with #GreaterNoidaAuthority
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
'Neither had helmets on': How a midnight joyride on Rs 9-lakh Ducati Scrambler turned fatal for two young professionals in Noida
In Greater Noida West, a fatal accident occurred when a speeding Ducati Scrambler, carrying two young professionals, crashed into a construction pit near Char Murti roundabout. Ankur Singh and Kashish, neither wearing helmets, died after the bike rammed through a guardrail. NOIDA: A midnight joyride on a high-end Ducati Scrambler turned fatal for two young professionals in Greater Noida West on Tuesday when the speeding bike rammed through an iron guardrail and plunged into a 7-foot-deep pit dug up for an underpass project near the busy Char Murti roundabout. Neither was wearing a helmet. The victims, Ankur Singh (28) and his friend Kashish (25), had stepped out for a late-night spin. Singh picked her up from her flat in 14th Avenue society around 2.30am, just minutes before the crash. They were likely headed to his residence in Panchsheel Green 2, also in Noida Extension. Police said Singh, who was riding the Ducati, may have lost control at high speed. 'The bike smashed through the guardrail and fell into the pit. It appears both victims landed on construction machinery or debris inside, sustaining grievous injuries,' a senior Bisrakh police officer said. Sandbags placed behind the guardrail failed to absorb the impact. Both Ankur and Kashish were rushed to the District Hospital in Sector 39 but were declared dead on arrival. 'They were brought in with severe trauma. Neither had a helmet on,' said hospital CMS Dr Renu Aggarwal. The Ducati, a premium model worth around Rs 9 lakh, remained largely intact after the fall, police said. With no eyewitnesses at that hour, investigators are now scanning CCTV footage from nearby areas and examining the crash site to reconstruct events. Kashish's family was on its way from Allahabad by Tuesday evening, while Singh's relatives hadn't yet been contacted, police said. The spot where the accident occurred, Char Murti roundabout, also known as Gaur Chowk, is at the heart of a major infrastructure revamp in Greater Noida West. A 700-metre-long underpass is being built to ease congestion on the Taj Highway, connecting Gaur City to the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. Greater Noida Authority officials said diversion signage and metal barricades were already in place. 'It seems the vehicle was at high speed. We've directed immediate upgrades to the site — reflective tapes, better-lit zones and reinforced barriers. A coordination meeting with traffic police is also being scheduled to post night-time personnel,' said Prerna Singh, additional CEO of GNIDA. Experts say poor visibility, unbarricaded construction stretches and high-speed biking — often without protective gear — have led to a spike in road fatalities. UP alone saw 13,000 crashes and nearly 7,700 deaths between January and May this year. Noida accounted for 1,165 accidents and 462 deaths in 2023.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Despair to dignity: How micro loans helped rebuild livelihoods post Covid
Babli took a Rs 80,000 loan to set up a grocery shop in Surajpur When the Covid-19 lockdown brought life to a standstill in early 2020, Babli, a sanitation worker in Greater Noida, was among the millions suddenly left without income. Within weeks, her two sons lost their factory jobs. Her husband, who drove an autorickshaw, also found himself stranded. "We had nothing," she recalled. "No job, no food. Just fear." But a govt announcement blaring through her Surajpur lane in June 2020 changed everything. That was the first time Babli heard of PM Svanidhi — the Pradhan Mantri Street Vendor Atmanirbhar Nidhi — a central scheme launched to provide collateral-free working capital loans to small vendors affected by the pandemic. Though she wasn't a registered street vendor, Babli managed to get a letter of recommendation from the Greater Noida Authority. With it, she started a modest vegetable cart. Her first loan was Rs 10,000. She repaid it in 12 months. Then came a Rs 20,000 second-term loan, which she cleared in 18 months. By 2023, she became eligible for the third-term loan of Rs 50,000. "That helped me open a small shop in my colony," Babli said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Calcule cuánto podría ganar invirtiendo $200 en Amazon CFD's y otras acciones de indetenible Undo "We sell groceries, oil, toiletries — enough to live with dignity now." Babli is one of 403 street vendors in Noida to receive the third loan under the scheme. Her story mirrors that of hundreds who escaped the poverty trap with timely financial aid. In Dadri, Vinod Prajapati, a diploma holder in bike mechanics, also watched his livelihood vanish during the lockdown. "I had to shut my shop. There were no vehicles to repair," he said. A father of five daughters, he feared he might have to pull his eldest out of school. But then he learnt about the Svanidhi scheme from newspapers in June 2020. With Rs 10,000, he opened a tea stall. Slowly, earnings trickled in. "It was hard, but I paid back every rupee," he says. His wife, Babita, took a loan too and began selling vegetables. Together, their home stabilised. Vinod's next loans — Rs 20,000 and then Rs 50,000 — helped expand the business. By 2024, he secured Rs 1.9 lakh under the Mudra scheme too. Today, they run a grocery and stationery shop. "All five daughters are in school or college — the eldest pursuing a BE degree. Without the scheme, I might've lost everything," Vinod said. The third-term loans were distributed on Dec 31, 2024. Now, many, like Akhilesh Upadhyay from Chipyana, are waiting for the fourth phase, expected to offer Rs 1 lakh. Upadhyay, who had worked in construction before the pandemic hit, used his first loan to start a small snack cart. "My wife is disabled, and I have young children. These loans kept us afloat," he said. The third loan of Rs 50,000 helped him grow the business, but a fourth is urgently needed. "I've paid off more than half already. But I need the next loan to keep going." Launched on June 1, 2020, PM Svanidhi offers street vendors an escalating loan ladder — Rs 10,000 for the first term, Rs 20,000 for the second, Rs 50,000 for the third, and Rs 1 lakh planned for the fourth. There's also a digital incentive: vendors receive Rs 50 for completing 50 digital transactions in a month, with up to Rs 100 in total cashback for exceeding 200 transactions. To qualify, vendors must have a certificate of vending or a letter of recommendation from local authorities. In Gautam Budh Nagar, only those under the Noida Authority had vending certificates. Others were supported through LoRs issued after requests by the district's urban mission team. City mission manager Sheela explained, "We ensured the process remained inclusive, even for informal vendors. That's how thousands could benefit." To reach the poorest, loans are disbursed via a wide range of financial institutions — from nationalised banks like SBI (5.6 lakh beneficiaries) and PNB (3 lakh), Bank of Baroda (2.9 lakh), Union Bank of India (1.9lakh) and Indian Bank (1.7lakh) to micro-finance institutions and SHGs, like Stree Nidhi. In UP alone, 95 institutions took part, with SBI serving the largest number of beneficiaries. Repaying 10,000 struggle for many While UP successfully extended PM Svanidhi to nearly 20 lakh urban street vendors, striking a success rate of over 100%, several beneficiaries struggled to repay the first tranche of the loan. While in the first phase, 13.9 lakh beneficiaries received loans, only 5.2 lakh were eligible for the second round and just 76,872 for the third. In Noida, 4,756 vendors availed the first loan. Of them, only 2,270 repaid the loan and secured the second, and 403 moved on to the third, reflecting the challenge of timely repayments. Across the country, over 96 lakh loans have been disbursed—nearly 70 lakh first-term, 23 lakh second-term, and close to 5 lakh third-term loans.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Two die after Ducati breaks guardrail of under-construction underpass in Gaur Chowk, falls into 7-foot pit
1 2 Noida: Two young professionals out for a midnight spin on a Ducati Scrambler died after the bike broke through an iron guardrail and plunged into a seven-foot-deep pit dug for the construction of an underpass on the Taj Highway near Char Murti roundabout early Tuesday. Cops said the rider was speeding and may have lost control of the bike. Sandbags placed beyond the safety rails could not break their fall. Ankur Singh (28) had picked up his friend, Kashish (25), around 2.30 am from her flat in 14th Avenue society, about 2.4km from Gaur Chowk, minutes before the crash. They were likely headed to Singh's apartment in Panchsheel Green 2, also in Greater Noida West. Police said they received a call in the early hours and rushed a team from Bisrakh to the spot. "It appears the bike smashed into a safety railing of the underpass site and fell into the pit," a senior officer said. It is likely that the two landed on construction materials and machinery left at the site and suffered severe injuries, the officer said. They were rushed to District Hospital in Sector 39, but died on the way. "Both had died by the time they were brought to the hospital," District Hospital CMS Renu Aggarwal said. Neither Ankur nor Kashish was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, police said. With no eyewitnesses at that hour, investigators are relying on CCTV footage and forensic examination of the crash site. The motorcycle, a premium model priced at Rs 9 lakh, was left largely undamaged, they said. According to cops, both Singh and Kashish were employed with private companies. Till late Tuesday evening, cops could not reach Singh's family. Kashish's family members were on their way to Noida from Allahabad. Police say the investigation is ongoing, and they are working to determine the precise sequence of events leading to the crash. Greater Noida Authority additional CEO Prerna Singh told TOI that there are diversions and barricades in place around the Char Murti roundabout for the construction of the underpass. "It appears the bike was speeding. We have ordered immediate reinforcement of safety measures at the site, including the installation of reflective tapes, stronger barriers, and better lighting. "A coordination meeting with the traffic police will be convened soon to ensure personnel are present at the site during night hours," she said. The under-construction underpass at the Char Murti roundabout, also known as Gaur Chowk, is part of a major infrastructure project to ease traffic congestion in Greater Noida West. The 700-metre, six-lane underpass on the Taj Highway is designed to help commuters from Surajpur bypass the roundabout and directly connect to Gaur City and the Delhi-Meerut Expressway. While construction continues, traffic flow in the area has already been partially altered. Key sections of the carriageway have been blocked due to digging at the main intersection, forcing vehicles to take detours via service lanes and U-turns. A time-based analytical report compiled by the UP Road Safety and Awareness Cell shows the state recorded more than 13,000 road accidents and nearly 7,700 deaths between Jan 1 and May 20 this year. In comparison, 46,052 road accidents were reported in 2024, which led to 24,118 fatalities and 34,665 people getting injured. Noida alone recorded 1,165 crashes last year, which left 462 dead and 966 injured.
Time of India
05-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Diversions kick in for six-lane underpass to decongest Gaur Chowk
Noida: Vehicles travelling from Bisrakh and Surajpur to Noida have been restricted to the service lane on Greater Noida West Road as excavation on the carriageway began for a six-lane underpass near the congested Gaur Chowk. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 700-metre underpass, which is to run parallel to the Taj Highway, will allow vehicles coming from Surajpur to bypass the daily bottlenecks at Char Murti roundabout, also called Gaur Chowk, by connecting Greater Noida directly with Gaur City and Delhi-Meerut Expressway ahead. Greater Noida Authority CEO Ravi Kumar NG told TOI that a key section of the carriageway has now been blocked due to digging at the main intersection for the underpass. "Traffic from Bisrakh towards Noida will now use the service lane and then turn left towards Parthala. Commuters heading to Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Gaur City will have to take a left and then a U-turn to proceed. There are no restrictions for people travelling from Noida to Ek Murti Chowk ahead via the Gaur Chowk as the rotary has not been blocked," he said. More diversions are expected on the Taj Highway as the work progresses in the coming days, the official said. The Rs 92-crore project is expected to be ready in 18 months. Of the total length, 350 metres will stretch on either side of the roundabout. The underpass is among the several infrastructure projects undertaken by UP govt in the region, including Noida expressway bypass, Chilla Elevated Road and a flyway linking Ek Murti Chowk to DME, which are on the drawing boards anticipating heavy traffic movement in the area once the Noida airport becomes functional. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Gaur Chowk, a central traffic node in Greater Noida West, a housing hub accommodating over five lakh residents. The six-lane road, already under pressure from traffic pouring in from Noida, Surajpur, Crossings Republik, and the DME. While the Parthala flyover, inaugurated in 2023 on the Vikas Marg-FNG Expressway junction, eased bottlenecks at Parthala Chowk, it shifted the snarls towards Gaur Chowk. Over the years, traffic cops have tried to ease tailbacks by blocking two arms of the rotary and creating two U-turns, about 500 metres away from the intersection. However, with traffic volume increasing continuously, those measures proved inadequate. With more traffic restrictions likely over the next few months before the underpass is ready, motorists fear daily bottlenecks in the area. "While diversions are necessary, they're already causing traffic jams during peak hours. There's also dust pollution, as the contractor isn't following NGT's dust control guidelines," Amarjeet Rathore, a Gaur City resident, said. Meanwhile, despite traffic diversions, a number of bikers were seen plying on the wrong side of the service lane. Ecovillage 1 resident Manish Kumar said, "There was already traffic pressure due to diversion, and now people driving on the wrong side are further worsening the problem. Cops should be deployed in the area to check these violations."
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Underpass work at Gaur Chowk begins, traffic diverted; residents complain of jams, dust
The project, costing approximately Rs 92 crore, will directly connect Greater Noida with Gaur City and the DME, bypassing the heavily congested Gaur Chowk. NOIDA: Traffic diversions were implemented at Gaur Chowk as the construction of a six-lane underpass parallel to the Taj Highway gathered momentum. Due to excavation work on the main carriageway of the Greater Noida West road—which connects Bisrakh/Surajpur to Gaur Chowk—Greater Noida Authority and traffic police diverted vehicles to the adjacent service lanes. Now, traffic from Bisrakh towards Noida must use the service lane and then turn left towards Parthala. Commuters heading to the Delhi-Meerut Expressway (DME) and Gaur City will have to take a left and then a U-turn to proceed. However, people travelling from Noida to Ek Murti via Gaur Chowk and vice versa can navigate as the rotary is not blocked. The 700 m long underpass, running parallel to the 60-metre road, is designed to connect Greater Noida directly with Gaur City and the DME, allowing vehicles to bypass Gaur Chowk altogether. Of the total length, 350 metres will stretch on either side of the Chowk. The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 92 crore, and the project timeline is set for one and a half years. Ravi Kumar NG, CEO of Greater Noida Authority, said the digging at the main intersection for underpass work began. 'A key section of the carriageway is now blocked for construction, with traffic being diverted to service lanes,' he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Rosario (ver precio) Verisure Undo Similar diversions are expected on the Taj Highway as the work progresses in the coming days. Gaur Chowk, also known as Char Murti, is a central traffic node in Greater Noida West, a housing hub accommodating over five lakh residents. The six-lane road, already under pressure from traffic pouring in from Noida, Surajpur, Crossings Republik, and the DME, has long struggled with congestion. While the Parthala flyover, inaugurated in 2023 on the Vikas Marg-FNG Expressway junction, eased bottlenecks at Parthala Chowk, it only shifted the problem further ahead toward Gaur Chowk. The traffic police attempted to control the situation by blocking two arms of the rotary and creating two U-turns 500 metres away from the intersection. However, with traffic volumes continuously increasing, those measures proved inadequate. Amarjeet Rathore, a Gaur City resident, said, 'We hope the underpass is completed soon. While diversions are necessary, they're already causing traffic jams during peak hours. There's also dust pollution, as the contractor isn't following NGT's dust control guidelines.' Manish Kumar , a resident of Supertech Eco Village, said that while traffic diversion is in place, a number of bikers and cyclists were seen plying on the wrong side of this service lane. 'There is already traffic pressure due to diversion. People driving on the wrong side is further worsening the problem,' he said. He also mentioned that there is roadside dust on the service lanes, creating problems for commuters.
