New 194 crore Greater Noida overbridge road surface peels off after first rain
The top asphalt layer of a newly opened eight-lane railway overbridge connecting Makoda and Tilapta villages in Greater Noida peeled off following the first monsoon rain, just two weeks after it was opened to the public. The damage, which was noticed on Thursday, has sparked heavy criticism from local residents and motorists regarding the construction quality of the ₹194 crore infrastructure project.
The 1.6-km-long overbridge was constructed by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) and officially opened on June 24. It serves as a key transit link between Gaur Chowk and residential sectors including Zeta 1, Eta 1, and Delta 1, aiming to ease traffic congestion between Greater Noida West and Greater Noida.
However, the first spell of monsoon rain caused the top layer of asphalt on one of the carriageways to wear out. The damage has left the road with rough patches and an uneven surface, creating potential safety hazards for commuters.
Ashok Kumar, a resident of Sector 1, noticed the damaged stretch on Thursday while travelling from the Greater Noida authority office towards Tilapta. He expressed concern over how quickly the road deteriorated.
"The bituminous road surface failed to withstand even the first spell of monsoon rain. The road has started breaking within days of its inauguration, raising serious concerns about the quality of construction," Kumar said. He added that he has written to the DFCCIL and the Union railways ministry, requesting an inspection and corrective action.
A motorist, Amit Chauhan, also expressed disappointment with the condition of the newly built road. He noted that the road was developed very recently and warned that the damaged stretch must be repaired immediately before it becomes a major safety hazard.
DFCCIL officials did not respond to requests for comment. However, a maintenance team arrived at the site shortly after the damage was reported to carry out temporary repair work on the affected patch of the road.
Construction on the railway overbridge originally began in 2020 with an initial completion target of 2022. The project faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic before it was finally completed and opened last month.
