Noida Authority Proposes Major Redesign for Parthala Roundabout to Combat Persistent Traffic Woes
Three years after the inauguration of a six-lane cable-stayed flyover aimed at alleviating traffic congestion on the crucial arterial road connecting Noida to Greater Noida West, the Parthala roundabout continues to suffer from severe daily peak-hour snarls. In response to this ongoing issue, the Noida Authority has now put forward a proposal to significantly redesign the junction.
Proposed Changes to Improve Traffic Flow
The core of the plan involves reducing the width of the existing roundabout to better accommodate the high volume of traffic descending from Vikas Marg. This key road links Sectors 52 and 71 to Gaur Chowk and converges with the Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad (FNG) road, which connects Sorka village to Chhajarsi colony. Officials have indicated that at least two arms of the roundabout may be permanently closed.
To complement this change and curb the prevalent issue of wrong-side driving, the Authority plans to construct two dedicated U-turn facilities. One is proposed on Vikas Marg near the Homes 121 residential complex, and another on the FNG Road. The absence of such designated turns has forced many commuters to engage in dangerous wrong-side maneuvers on both the Parthala flyover and the road beneath it.
Residents Voice Frustration Over Current Conditions
Local residents have expressed significant frustration with the current traffic situation. Shobhit Kapoor, a resident of Homes 121, described the roundabout as remaining "choke-a-block" during peak hours. He explained, "With no U-turns in place, residents along Vikas Marg are forced to take a lengthy detour via the roundabout and the FNG Road just to loop back and access their own housing societies." Kapoor added that this inconvenience leads many motorcyclists to take risky, time-saving wrong-side rides.
Echoing these concerns, Gaurav Kumar, a resident of Sorka, highlighted that the FNG Road stretch also becomes severely congested during peak times. "Even a minor bottleneck at the roundabout triggers long queues on both sides. The situation demands urgent intervention," Kumar stated.
Background on the Parthala Flyover and Project Timeline
The Parthala flyover, which opened in 2023, is Noida's first cable-stayed bridge, modeled on Delhi's iconic Signature Bridge. This 600-meter-long structure was designed to offer faster access to Greater Noida West and ease travel towards Noida and Delhi. While it has successfully streamlined vehicle flow on Vikas Marg, traffic on the converging FNG Road continues to crawl as it approaches the roundabout. The congestion from both the roundabout and the flyover funnels into just two lanes at Gaur Chowk, exacerbating snarls at that junction as well.
A recent work tender floated by the Noida Authority's traffic cell formally outlines the plan to reduce the roundabout's size to improve overall traffic navigation. According to an official from the Authority, bids for this redesign project are to be submitted by February 19. Following the opening of tenders, construction work on this Rs 5 crore initiative is scheduled to commence in March.
