Noida: Potholes, broken stretches and dilapidated patches have become a familiar sight on several Noida roads, many of which have remained in the same state for over 1.5 years. With the monsoon further worsening the damage, the battered stretches have become increasingly difficult to navigate, while several internal roads continue to await repairs.The main road in Sector 122, a densely commercial stretch, has remained damaged for nearly a year and a half. The one-kilometre stretch is a crucial link connecting the 7X sectors and frequently witnesses heavy traffic jams.“Traffic crawls here during peak hours, both in the morning and evening. Those catching a flight from IGI Airport or a train from New Delhi railway station need to factor in at least an additional one to 1.5 hours over their usual commute time to reach on time,” said Nalini Verma, a Sector 122 resident.The damaged road also poses difficulties for school buses that regularly ply the route.Commuters said MP2 elevated road from Sector 71 to Kailash Hospital is badly damaged, causing peak-hour traffic snarls. “Sometimes, I feel like staying back at the office to avoid getting stuck during peak hours,” said Shivam Shukla, a Sector 121 resident.The road from Parthala flyover near Cleo County in Sector 121 to Sector 71-52 underpass has also been uneven and bumpy for over a year.“The ride through the underpass can lead to damage to vehicular suspensions and is backbreaking,” said Rajesh Singh, a resident of Pan Oasis Society, Sector 70.Other trouble spots include Shashi Chowk in Sector 37 and Film City Road near T-Series office, where commuters navigate deep potholes. The three-kilometre stretch from Noida Stadium at Sector 11-22 intersection to Rajnigandha Chowk, a key route to DND, is also damaged at several points.Noida Authority had cited the lack of bitumen availability for road repairs as the reason for the lack of repairs earlier; the current monsoon spell has exacerbated the situation.Sector 105 RWA president Deepak Sharma said roads have remained unrepaired for eight years, while a faulty drainage system causes severe waterlogging after rains. Damaged drains and inadequate slopes leave stagnant water, creating health risks and “unbearable living conditions.”Satnarayan Goyal, RWA president of Sector 55, said a tender has been issued to repair an 18-metre-wide road, but rising bitumen costs have delayed the work. “We have heard the delays are due to raw material procurement, but promises have been made for too long without tangible results,” he said.AK Arora, general manager of Noida Authority, told TOI that the tendering process is underway and that road repair work is expected to commence after the monsoon is over, likely in September.“The delay was primarily due to material shortages because of global issues, and repairs have already been initiated in several sectors, and plans are in place to prioritise severely affected areas,” said Arora.
