Noida's Film City Road in Disrepair: Potholes, Traffic Snarls Plague Media Hub Commuters
A critical stretch of road outside the T-Series office in Noida's Film City has become a nightmare for daily commuters, with deep potholes and uneven patches severely disrupting traffic flow and creating hazardous conditions. The deteriorating road surface forces drivers to navigate carefully around broken sections, with some vehicles slowing to walking speed to avoid potential damage to their vehicles.
Media Hub Faces Infrastructure Crisis
Located in Sector 16A, Film City stands as one of the region's most prominent media hubs, housing offices and studios of numerous leading television news channels, production houses, and digital media platforms. Thousands of journalists, technicians, and creative professionals commute to this area daily, joined by a steady stream of politicians, government officials, policy experts, and analysts who visit studios for television debates and panel discussions.
The road's poor condition has worsened significantly over recent months, with heavy traffic volumes and recent rainfall carving out large craters that now dot the surface. Media professional Mahesh Kumar expressed frustration, stating, "This is Film City. There are so many media houses, yet the road is in such bad condition. The Noida Authority must take note of this and fix it." He emphasized that the damaged road not only slows traffic but also increases risks of accidents and vehicle damage.
Commuters Voice Safety Concerns
The situation becomes particularly challenging during evening hours when office-goers return home through this problematic stretch. Daily traffic snarls have become routine for those navigating the area. A journalist working with a print media organization highlighted the dangers for professionals on tight schedules: "Reporters are often in a hurry to cover news events or press conferences, and in such situations, travelling through the damaged road becomes dangerous. Even a minor lapse can lead to skidding and accidents, particularly for two-wheeler riders."
Santosh Kumar, a regular commuter, reported that the road has remained in poor condition for approximately six months. "I regularly travel on this road, but the situation has deteriorated over time. During the rainy season, the road suffered further damage as rainwater seeped into existing cracks and weakened the layers beneath the surface. It needs urgent repair to ease the commute," he explained.
Another frustrated commuter criticized the maintenance standards: "This pothole-ridden road reflects poor maintenance and weak monitoring. This should be repaired at the earliest."
Authority Response and Broader Pollution Concerns
Noida Authority's deputy general manager (civil), Vijay Rawal, acknowledged the issue has come to their attention. "We are currently in the process of hiring a contractor. The repair works will start on this stretch in two weeks," Rawal stated, offering a timeline for potential improvements.
Beyond immediate traffic concerns, damaged roads contribute significantly to Noida's deteriorating air quality and rising pollution levels. Last month, teams from the Commission for Air Quality Management conducted inspections across city roads, including:
- MP-1 stretch from Rajnigandha Chowk to Sectors 12 and 22
- MP-2 from Film City to Sector 60
- MP-3 from Kalindi Kunj to City Centre
- Several internal roads across multiple sectors
While initial reports indicated low or no visible dust at most locations, with only four roads showing high dust levels and 24 recording moderate dust, subsequent investigations revealed a different picture. Following feedback from residents and media reports, CAQM directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board to conduct checks at 23 locations again. The revised assessment found dust pollution present at most of these spots, highlighting ongoing environmental concerns related to road maintenance.
The Film City road situation underscores broader infrastructure challenges facing Noida's rapidly developing areas, where maintenance struggles to keep pace with increasing traffic demands and environmental pressures.
