Just like in Europe, where public transport is available after every 700 metres, people in Noida and Greater Noida would not have to walk for more than 500 metres to catch a bus, auto, tram and then metro to reach their respective destinations. The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) on Monday proposed a Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) for the twin cities to integrate all modes of transportation.
An official of the Noida Authority said that the CMP will address the mobility needs of all the people in which all modes of transportations will be integrated.
Manoj Rai, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) of Noida Authority said, “We have viewed a detailed presentation of comprehensive mobility plan prepared by a Central Government-appointed consultant company UMTC (Urban Mass Transit Company). The company has incorporated multi-modes of transportation after studying the traffic plan and commuters’ demands to provide better public transport service for the last mile of destination. Few suggestions have been given by the officials that are to be incorporated.”
UPMT also gave another presentation to ply tram in Noida under CMP plan on Monday. The official said that three routes have been proposed for tram service, which includes 10-km-stretch between Mahamaya Flyover to Sector 142, just beside the proposed metro link here. It would cover the residential and institutional sectors 94, 124, 125, 126, 128, 131, 132, including Amity University, HCl, Mayor School, multi-residential Jeypee Housing group etc. The second route of tram would be at seven-km-stretch between Sector 12/22 to labour crossing of NIB that connects National Highway (NH) 24. Meanwhile, the third route would be at three-km-stretch between Botanical Garden to Golf course.
Manoj Rai, OSD of Noida Authority, said, “We have asked the consultant to prepare its Detail Project Report (DPR). Then Authority would invite expression of interest (EoI) where the interested company would be finalised for its contract to start work.”
He said, “As the authority is developing the network of metro links in Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna region, the CMP plan would help provide services of buses, autos and trams to the commuters so that they would not have to walk long distance to pick other modes of transportation to reach at their last mile.”
Authority plans to ply around 385 buses in the twin cities Noida, Greater Noida, and between Noida to Greater Noida. An official said that 100 buses have been decided to ply in the first phase for which technical bid will open on 10 July.
In 2013, a six-member committee — formed by National Green Tribunal — had submitted a report highlighting the problems faced by the twin cities due to inoperative traffic signals and the lack of traffic management. The committee had also recommended creation of a CMP by Noida Authority for traffic management.
The report stated that “though construction of expressways, flyovers, underpasses and Metro rail have been undertaken to combat vehicular pollution, there are frequent jams, inoperative signals, etc.” The panel had recommended a plan to reduce vehicular pollution that would include a traffic management master plan, an intelligent transport system and an efficient public transport system.