Noida: Gaur Chowk underpass, which is nearing completion, may open to traffic on Diwali. Around 95% of the work has been completed, with finishing touches being given to it. Greater Noida Authority deputy general manager (civil) Vijay Rawal told TOI, “The Authority will soon finalise the inauguration date.” The Authority had earlier planned to open the underpass on Aug 15, but the deadline was missed.The 700-metre-long underpass, located parallel to Taj Highway at Gaur Chowk, is aimed at easing congestion on one of Greater Noida west’s busiest traffic corridors. The junction caters to over five lakh residents and handles heavy traffic from Noida, Surajpur, Crossings Republik and Delhi-Meerut Expressway.While lighting, lane marking and wall paintings remain, the inner walls of the underpass are being decorated with paintings depicting nature and Gautam Buddha. The artwork is expected to enhance the experience of commuters using the stretch. The shades on both sides of the underpass are also nearing completion. These shades will help during rainfall.The entrance to the underpass is currently closed to traffic. Construction materials lying at the site will be cleared before it becomes operational. The Authority has also developed two U-turns near Gaur Chowk and resurfaced the road running parallel to the underpass.Construction began in July 2024, with an 18-month deadline. However, the project was delayed due to restrictions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and work stoppages during peak traffic hours. In Sept last year, the Authority completed the main slab, allowing vehicles travelling from Noida towards Gaur Chowk and Ek Murti to move without a diversion.The six-lane underpass runs alongside a 60-metre-wide road and is designed to provide a direct link between Greater Noida, Gaur City and Delhi-Meerut Expressway, allowing vehicles to bypass the junction and reduce traffic congestion. Of the total 700-metre length, 350 metres lie on each side of the junction. The project has a sanctioned cost of Rs 92 crore.“This is one of the most awaited projects in Greater Noida west. Commuters face heavy traffic at this spot during peak morning and evening hours. We hope that this underpass will ease traffic situation,” said Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Gaur City.Sumil Jalota, a resident of La Residentia, said that navigating Gaur Chowk was a painful task due to heavy traffic. “There have been traffic restrictions near Gaur Chowk due to underpass project works. The traffic moves slowly at this spot and we always tried to avoid peak hour movement at this spot. It takes nearly 20-30 minutes to navigate this Chowk. However, as the project is expecting to open on Diwali, it will bring a relief to thousands of people living in Greater Noida west,” he said.This underpass is also important as people heavily rely on cars, cabs and other public transport systems in Greater Noida west in the absence of metro connectivity. In Sept, the Authority and traffic police had also placed traffic restrictions on a portion of a 130-metre-wide road — exactly above Gaur Chowk — for resurfacing works. This resurfacing work is complete now.The inauguration of Parthala flyover in 2023 helped reduce bottlenecks at Parthala Chowk but it shifted the congestion problem towards Gaur Chowk. In an earlier attempt to manage the situation, traffic police blocked two arms of Gaur Chowk rotary and created U-turns. While these interim measures offered temporary respite, the increase in vehicular volume rendered them insufficient in the long run. Now, the new underpass is also equipped with two U-turns to facilitate commuters.
