NOIDA: Commuters in the city had a smooth ride to office on Monday morning, but had to virtually wade back home in the evening.
Rains that lashed the city around 10am caused
waterlogging at the usual spots — Mahamaya-Kalindi Kunj route, Dalit Prerna Sthal, Sector 12/22 intersection and Sectors 19,20,27,37, 45.
Though office-hour rush in the morning was spared, the rains did play a spoilsport for Janmashtami revelers too.
SP (traffic) Anil Jha said there was traffic congestion on the Mahamaya-Kalindi Kunj route because of waterlogging at the Mahamaya loop, Sector 12/22 intersection and Dalit Prerna Sthal.
Officials of the Noida Authority said they had taken a series of steps to curb waterlogging.
“We have constructed a sump well at the Mahamaya loop to drain out water. The situation is not as bad on the DND loop. One of the carriageways is always working,” said SC Arora, DGM (Jal), Noida Authority.
Commuters, however, said the steps did not seem adequate. “It is a holiday today and still, it took me over 15 minutes to cross the stretch. What would have happened had it been a weekday?” asked Shreyas Kant, who was travelling to Delhi via Kalindi Kunj.
The traffic police had diverted vehicles going from Nithari to NTPC near the Sector 24 police chowki and the super-speciality paediatric hospital to avoid congestion near the Iskcon temple, where devotees had gathered for Janmashtami.
The diversion caused vehicles to take a longer route from City Centre, which is ridden with potholes and mud from the rains.
Although a number of personnel had been deployed near the Iskcon temple and Sector 24 police chowki to divert traffic, commuters could be seen parking on the space over the underpass in Sectors 25A, 24, 33A and 32 despite being told to park on the ground behind Prakash hospital.
“We had directed travellers towards the designated parking area but they didn’t want to park there as it is easier to move from here. Commuters did not listen to us. They were only concerned about their vehicle’s cleanliness and a shorter route,” a police constable told TOI.
Commuters, especially those coming from Sectors 60,62,etc, could be seen avoiding the route towards the designated parking.
Sector 45 was among many areas that faced waterlogging
