Noida: To improve traffic flow and reduce road accidents, the transport department has identified 27 illegal road cuts across Noida and Greater Noida and directed the agencies concerned to seal them.The department has written to Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna authorities, as well as National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), enclosing a list of the identified locations and asking them to permanently block the unauthorised openings with concrete barriers or iron grilles.Of the 27 illegal cuts, two fall under Noida Authority area — near Sector 18 Metro Station and Sorkha village. Eight are in Greater Noida Authority limits, including two in Chhajarsi and one each near Moser Baer roundabout, LG roundabout, Surajpur-Kasna Road, Makoda roundabout, Alpha roundabout and Knowledge Park Metro Station.Three illegal cuts are in Yamuna Authority area — near Noida International University, Galgotias University and Buddh International Circuit. The remaining 14 fall under NHAI, most of them along NH-91.Assistant regional transport office (enforcement) Udit Narayan Pandey said the openings were identified during a road safety assessment. “These unauthorised openings are highly unsafe and significantly increase the risk of accidents,” he said.Officials said motorists frequently use these as shortcuts, often entering the wrong carriageway and coming into conflict with high-speed traffic. Pedestrians, cyclists and bikers also use them for quicker access, making the stretches even more hazardous.The unauthorised opening near Sector 18 Metro Station connects Sector 18 market with Atta Market in Sector 27. Hundreds of pedestrians use it every day to cross Captain Vijayant Thapar Marg because there is no foot overbridge at the spot. “In the past too, Authority closed the Sector 18 cut but due to people’s pressure, it was opened. There is relatively small space at this spot for an FOB. However, we will hold a meeting to see if some alternative arrangements can be made,” Noida Authority OSD Indu Prakash Singh said.The road separating the two commercial hubs witnesses heavy movement of shoppers, office-goers, vendors and Metro commuters throughout the day. Many pedestrians cross one carriageway and then squeeze through a damaged portion of the central verge before navigating the fast-moving traffic on the opposite side.Residents and traders said closing the opening without providing an alternative crossing would create inconvenience.“The traffic police and Noida Authority have closed this cut earlier too, but commuters remove the barricades because they need to cross the road. The authorities should first find an alternative solution as thousands of people use this route and there is no foot overbridge,” said SK Jain, president of the Sector 18 Market Association.Although commuters can use the unpaid concourse of Sector 18 Metro Station to move between the two sides of the road, traders said very few shoppers take that route, preferring the direct crossing instead.
