Ghaziabad: A 7km embankment along the Hindon and a 2km elevated road over one of the city’s most congested stretches were among 17 proposals approved by the GDA board on Friday. While the embankment is aimed at protecting a proposed international cricket stadium and major civic developments in the area, the elevated road is designed to take traffic pressure off the city’s busiest junctions.The Rs 190-crore embankment will run from city forest to Farukhnagar along the Hindon. The six-lane stretch will protect the proposed stadium, Aero City and Harnandipuram township from flooding. “The embankment will secure not only the stadium but also Aero City and Harnandipuram township,” a GDA official said.The board also approved a Rs 200-crore, 2km elevated road from Chaudhary Mode to GT Road under the urban challenge fund, for which the state govt has already sanctioned funds. The project is expected to ease congestion at Bhatia Mode, Chaudhary Mode and Ghanta Ghar.The stretch has long been a traffic choke point. A CRRI report had identified it as one of the city’s busiest tri-sections, with a crowded market, Chaudhary Cinema and a temple around the GT Road-Ambedkar Road intersection adding to the pressure. “The project will also ease traffic on GT Road towards Aligarh. GDA now plans to get the design prepared by IIT, Roorkee,” the official said.Under the funding model, 25% of the elevated road’s cost will be borne by the Centre, another 25% by urban local body department of UP, and the remaining 50% raised through market-based financing.The board also approved the revised building plan of Ansal Urban Condominiums Pvt Ltd, bringing relief to 1,600 homebuyers waiting for nearly two decades. “After an SC order, GDA was ready to approve the revised plan. It was finally approved at Friday’s board meeting,” the official said.The project’s original developer, Ansal API, had submitted its layout plan in 2014 under the state’s integrated township policy and revised it in 2017. The project later stalled amid insolvency and disputes.In another decision, the board reviewed the stalled Sun City township, proposed in 2005 under the state’s erstwhile hi-tech township policy. The 4,312-acre project has remained stuck for nearly two decades over land acquisition, MoU violations and Rs 172 crore in dues. Repeated farmer protests over compensation meant only 828 acres could be acquired in 18 years.
