Noida's Traffic Woes: Film City Loop and Other Congestion Hotspots

Understanding Noida's Traffic Challenges

The Film City Loop stands out as one of the most significant traffic bottlenecks in Noida, particularly during rush hours. This situation reflects a broader issue affecting urban areas across the nation. Originally designed to accommodate around 80,000 vehicles, the loop now struggles under the weight of approximately 400,000 vehicles daily, leading to frustrating traffic jams that exacerbate the stress of driving in the heat.

This congestion is not unique to Noida; it mirrors the challenges faced by cities nationwide as new vehicles flood the roads daily. Officials acknowledge that even the usually smooth traffic on Sector 14A encounters delays at the Film City Loop. To alleviate this, an elevated road is being constructed from Chilla Border to Mahamaya Flyover. The merging of two lanes with four-lane traffic at the Chilla border is a significant contributor to the congestion.

Additional Bottlenecks in Noida

Commuters in Noida face multiple bottlenecks, making travel increasingly difficult, especially during peak hours. Frustrated drivers have taken to social media to express their grievances, often tagging traffic police. While the police claim to deploy additional personnel, the relief has been minimal, with traffic jams persisting.

Infrastructure improvements, including road widening and underpass construction, are underway in various areas to ease congestion. Key trouble spots include the Film City Loop, Bird Feeding Point, Gaur Chowk in Greater Noida, and the route from National Highway 09 (NH-09) to Sector 59 Metro Station, all of which experience severe traffic delays during busy times.

Film City Loop Details

Traffic entering Noida from Delhi via the eight-lane DND flyway narrows to six lanes and then diverges into three directions: Sector 14A (two lanes), Film City (two lanes), and the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway (three lanes). While traffic towards Sector 14A flows relatively smoothly, the Film City loop becomes congested as two lanes merge with the four-lane traffic from Chilla Border, creating a significant bottleneck.

Officials have noted that the road was initially intended for 80,000 vehicles per day, but it now handles nearly 300,000 to 400,000 vehicles. To combat this issue, the construction of the Chilla Elevated Road is currently in progress.

Bird Feeding Point Congestion

The Bird Feeding Point near Dalit Prerna Sthal is another notorious congestion area where traffic from the Noida Expressway and elevated roads from Ghaziabad and Greater Noida converge into just four lanes. Officials have confirmed that a proposal to widen this road has been approved, and an additional lane will soon be added to help alleviate the congestion.

Gaur Chowk Traffic Issues

Gaur Chowk in Greater Noida is well-known for its traffic snarls and frequently trends on social media due to complaints from residents. The bottleneck is primarily caused by traffic from Parthala Flyover towards Ek Murti and Ghaziabad, with vehicles heading to the Delhi-Meerut Expressway, Crossings Republik, and Greater Noida all converging at this point.

In 2023, a new six-lane Parthala Flyover was inaugurated to ease traffic in Greater Noida West. However, this has shifted congestion to Gaur Chowk, prompting authorities to plan an underpass to further alleviate the issue. Construction of this underpass is now underway, offering hope to commuters who often face long delays.

NH-09 to Sector 59 Traffic Challenges

The route from NH-09 to Sector 59 also experiences regular congestion due to a wide concrete U-turn, encroachments, a large roundabout, and the lack of a foot overbridge. Residents report spending over 30 minutes to cover just three kilometers. One commuter expressed frustration, stating, "I regularly spend more than 30 minutes passing a short stretch near Sector 62 Metro Station. The concerned department should address this issue as it’s becoming a nightmare every time I use that road."

Officials have indicated that efforts are underway to reduce the size of the roundabout near the Electronic City Metro Station, and plans for a foot overbridge are also in the works.

Efforts to Manage Traffic

A resident of Noida Sector 19 voiced concerns about the need for traffic police and the Noida Authority to identify and address major congestion points promptly. He noted, "Commuting on these stretches is a nightmare. I often try to avoid these routes, but due to the lack of alternatives, it wastes my petrol, time, and energy."

A traffic police official stated, "We are deploying maximum resources to manage congestion in Noida. High traffic volume and infrastructure challenges contribute to slowdowns during peak hours, and we are collaborating with relevant departments to resolve these issues."