GDA plans to expand Metro network in its areas

If things go well, the trans-Hindon area will be the first Metro junction after Delhi where three existing Metro lines will meet at a single point. The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) has decided to expand the Metro lines of Noida, Dilshad Garden and Vaishali in order to make a single junction at one station somewhere in Mohan Nagar area. 

The authority, after going through the feasibility study, has allocated fund for making the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and to materialise it in the near future. The announcement to this effect was made after its scheduled board meeting on Tuesday. Besides this, the authority also announced a multitude of projects related to infrastructure development.

According to the senior GDA officials, the GDA has paid Rs 1.09 crore to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to link Noida Sector 62 and Vaishali in Ghaziabad district. The officials said that this is the first step towards developing Mohan Nagar as a major transport hub and the DMRC has been asked to prepare a detailed project report.

GDA Chairman Sadakant said: “With a view of developing a Metro network in two NCR towns of western UP — Noida, Ghaziabad — and their surrounding areas, the DMRC has been asked to prepare a project report. The Noida Metro line from Sector 62, via Indirapuram and Vasundhara, would connect the Dilshad Garden line at Mohan Nagar. The Vaishali Metro line would also connect the Dilshad Garden line. Additionally, the proposed rapid train to Meerut would also be connected with this network,” he added.

The GDA, it its 146th board meeting, also announced several other projects in which developing three cattle colonies is the main focus. The authority said that it has been planning to provide separate colonies for people engaged in cattle farming so that they can reside in an organised manner in and around the city. The authority also wants to restrict cattle movements on city roads and residential colonies by providing them separate colonies. 

“Since cattle population is on a constant rise, they can be easily found roaming freely on roads and in colonies. Their movements not just create hurdles in vehicular movements but also causes major accidents. The residential colonies also get affected with this problem. In view of this, we have decided to develop as many as three cattle colonies in the outskirts of the city,” said Vijay Kumar Yadav, GDA Vice-Chairman. The authority has also decided to implement its amended Building Bylaws, 2016 in place of the existing Building Bylaws, 2014. Construction of a power sub-station in Kavinagar area was also announced by the authority.