Noida: NMRC officials meet RWAs on Botanical Garden-Sector 142 route

NOIDA: In a meeting with residents living in sectors along the Noida expressway on Saturday, Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) brought up three proposed Botanical Garden to Sector 142 metro routes.

While most residents favoured Route 2, comprising six metro stations – Balak Inter College, Sector 93, Sector 108/105, Sector 104/98, Sector 45/44 and Botanical Garden, some wanted Route 1 with five stations – Sector 91, Sector 98, Sector 97, Sector 125, and Botanical Garden. Most residents supported Route 2 as “it covers a lot of residential sectors and has the potential for good ridership”.

A third proposed route with six metro stations – Balak Inter College, Sector 93, Janpath village, Sector 104/98, Sector 45/44, and Botanical Garden – was not popular among residents

Ritu Maheshwari, the NMRC managing director, said that the meeting with representatives of different residents’ welfare associations, villagers and other stakeholders aimed at consultation on the proposed metro route to obtain the maximum benefits.

“The revised detailed project report (DPR) of this corridor was prepared earlier this year. During its review, officials decided to revisit the alignment to cater for the needs of a more populated area. According to the reviews by the officers of Noida Authority, the NMRC and the DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation), three options were found appropriate for better connectivity. On Saturday, we held a meeting with RWA members and residents to seek their opinion on those. Most residents said the second route would be most beneficial. The residents of Hajipur village also said Route 2 would benefit them,” she said.

Additionally, the Noida police commissioner’s office in Sector 108 falls in the alignment of Route 2.

However, some residents have opined that Route 1 is also viable.
Noida: NMRC officials meet RWAs on Botanical Garden-Sector 142 routeMaheshwari said the DMRC would check the technical feasibility and the financial viability of the two routes favoured by residents before a final decision.

Initially, the DMRC had made a DPR, suggesting ten metro stations. Then in March 2022, it submitted a revised DPR with five metro stations. The 11.56-km-long route had an estimated cost of Rs 1794.31 crore.

In June 2022, the Noida Authority and the NMRC observed that the proposed route did not cater to densely-populated areas and may not get a good ridership. Officials pointed out that the existing Aqua Line corridor connecting Sector 51 to Depot Station crosses several sectors, which are not densely populated, and hence, does not fetch good ridership. So, it asked the DMRC to revise the route, and the latter came up with three more alignments.

Sudhir Sood, the president of Sector 44 RWA (A, B, & C blocks), said, “We have welcomed Route 2. However, we have suggested the NMRC use soundproof curtains in the residential areas to minimise the noise from the metro movement. A part of Magenta Line already crosses through the area, and the sound at night makes people uncomfortable.”

Currently, Aqua Line has a 40,000 daily ridership.