NOIDA: Dysfunctional lights, broken barriers, and widening cracks are common sights on the high-speed carriageways of the Delhi-Noida-Direct Flyway that was constructed in 2001. Over the past few years, most public facilities that had been built along the crucial link between the national capital and the city have also fallen to disuse. Twenty years on, the arterial road waits for a proper upkeep plan. But no authority is ready to take the responsibility for now.
The road was inaugurated in February 2001 and since then, thousands of commuters use it every day, most of them for work. It is among the country’s first public-private-partnership projects of the scale and size. But from the time toll collection was suspended on the 9km road, following directives of the Supreme Court and the Allahabad High Court in October 2016, facilities that were once available have gradually collapsed.
During a recent visit, TOI found that of the four toilets built for women, three were locked. For men, the only option is to use the mobile toilet on the Noida-Delhi carriageway.
“But it is cleaned only once in a day and remains filthy for most part of it,” said Saurabh Yadav, an advocate who practises in Delhi courts and stays in Noida, Sector 61. “People suffering from health issues like diabetes, have to be extra careful while taking the flyway,” he added.
Commuters, however, tend to choose the most convenient option, which is to relieve themselves in the open after parking their vehicles on the edge of the high-speed carriageways.
With no schedule or timeline for an annual maintenance exercise, the condition of the road is also worsening. Several cracks can be seen on both the Delhi and Noida-bound carriageways. Currently, work is being conducted in patches with potholes and cavities being leveled with hot mix. But that is hardly enough.
“Periodic review and maintenance of high-speed corridors are extremely important to avoid accidents. Continuous vehicular movement without regular maintenance not only increases risks but will also push costs during extensive repairs,” said Dhaval Parsana, an urban planner who works with several government agencies in NCR as a private consultant.
Some of the stretches are just dirty with broken barriers and leaves and branches scattered around. “What the road needs is a thorough, time-bound maintenance plan that is properly executed,” said a Noida resident who takes the road almost every day.
But what is holding up such an exercise?
Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited (NTBCL) says its income and funds have both dried up after the stretch was made toll free. The company has been trying to stay afloat on the basis of advertising revenues by selling hoardings and signboards along the road.
With its promoter, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Limited (IL&FS) facing insolvency proceedings, the records
of NTBCL are also under the scanner now.
The firm is facing additional burden in the form of recovery certificates issued by Noida Authority. The authority had appointed IL&FS and NTBCL to execute and implement the road plan in December 1998.
Although NTBCL kept collecting toll and generating revenues through advertising, from 2010, the equation changed. Noida Authority framed an outdoor advertising policy and demanded basic charges from the toll company since the land on which the flyway was built belonged to the authority, along with the kiosks and hoardings.
According to some officials in the authority, the company owes them about Rs 8.5 crore.
“Two recovery certificates have been issued. The company and authority are both waiting for a decision on the arbitration appeal (over change in law of the original concession agreement) that is pending before the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the authority’s chief legal advisor is also looking into the moratorium on all creditors ordered by NCLAT who have to recover money from IL&FS and its subsidiaries to decide on the next course of action,” said officer on special duty, Indu Prakash Singh, who is in-charge of advertising division.
The firm did not respond to queries.
Although Noida Authority has been raising a demand to get advertising revenues, it has no plans to maintain the carriageways.
The chief general manager of the authority, Rajiv Tyagi, said: “The road has to be maintained by the company and we have been forwarding concerns of commuters and residents to it.”
Another official said that with Noida Authority’s coffers running dry, it won’t be able to take up repairs and maintenance work. “The company has also told its shareholders in its filings that it is fulfilling its obligations and maintaining the project assets. There is no need for the Noida Authority to enter the picture,” added the senior official.