Commuters irked as autos and buses cause traffic congestion across Noida

Last month, the authorities seized 23 buses that were dropping and picking up passengers under the Mahamaya Flyover along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. Commuters say that similar crackdowns should be done at other places too where buses, autos and e-rickshaws are causing traffic jams.
The pleasure of a smooth ride is momentary in Noida. At various intersections across the city, commuters are forced to slow down as public transport vehicles like buses and autos halt in the middle of the road to drop or pick up passengers.
Rajnigandha intersection (Sector 16) is quite common, leading to traffic congestion
Last month, the authorities cracked down on one such stretch in the city. Twenty- three buses that were dropping and picking up passengers under the Mahamaya Flyover along the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway were seized by the district administration and 35 people were detained, including conductors and drivers of the buses. “We knew about the issue and the Regional Transport Office would often fine the buses halting here. However, since that did not stop the drivers, we had to impose Section 151 of the CrPC and detain them. The expressway is a high-speed corridor stretch and we cannot allow halting of vehicles at any cost, as it leads to chaotic traffic up till the DND Flyover,” says BN Singh, District Magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar.
While this step will hopefully make traffic movement smooth along the expressway, residents and commuters of the city say that similar crackdowns should be done at other places too. “There are at least six to seven such bottlenecks across the city where buses stop right in the middle of the road, even when there are bus stops in the area. If action is also taken against these bus drivers, it may help to de-congest the city’s roads,” says Amit Gupta, a Sector 77 resident who works in Sector 62.
At Mamura Chowk (near Fortis hospital), buses and autos halt on the main road
Not just buses, but trouble caused by autos is equally daunting for commuters. “On NH-24, while coming towards Sector 62, autos cover three lanes, with only one lane left for other motorists to go through. Even though a bylane has been made for autos to be parked, vendors have put up stalls there and all autos halt on the road to pick up passengers. There is a similar situation at Mamura Chowk as well. It is not just a violation of traffic rules but is also dangerous,” says Alok Katyal, a resident of Vasundhara who works at NSEZ in Noida.
When asked whether an action will be taken on other buses across the city, the Assistant Regional Transport Officer AK Panday says, “They were inter-state buses which, apart from violating traffic rules, did not have a permit to pick up passengers from that spot (on the Expressway). The same action cannot be taken on those running intra-city because they have the permit and hence they can only be fined for traffic violations.”
Talking about taking action against traffic violators in other parts of the city, Superintendent of Police (Traffic) Anil Jha says, “We are cracking down on traffic violators extensively since the past one month. Autos found without number plates are being seized everyday and an average of 3,500 autos are fined every month for traffic violations. Around 400 autos have been seized since January. Our prime focus areas are from Sector 62 intersection to Sector 71 stretch to Sector 37 Chalera underpass to DSC roundabout where autos and buses are fined". Our prime focus areas are from Sector 62 intersection to the DSC roundabout, through the Sector 71 stretch and the Sector 37 Chalera underpass, where autos and buses are fined.”

Meanwhile, in order to decongest the traffic at the Botanical Garden Metro Station, the authorities have imposed a fine of `5,000 on any bus that stops outside the Metro station, and since last month, the newly-constructed multi-level car parking (MLCP) at the Metro station has been opened for private, NMRC and State Roadways buses.
“The buses will enter the MLCP through gate number 1 of the Metro station and exit from gate number 4 after the passengers have boarded. They will not be allowed to halt on the road for passengers,” adds Jha.
Sector 62 Intersection, autos halt on the roads, leaving no space for commuters
However, residents feel that a permanent solution needs to be in place in order to solve traffic issues in the city. “Seizing or fining autos and buses are just temporary solutions. On one hand the authorities urge people to use public transport while on the other, there is no proper planning for it to function. Like some places in Delhi, Noida should also have bus bays where buses or autos can halt without obstructing the traffic,” says Vishnu Saini, who was a consultant with the Noida administration during construction of cycling tracks in the city in 2015.
In Video:Public transport chokes Noida, authorities say action taken