Noida lines up growth projects

The Noida Development Authority has lined up a slew of development plans, a large portion of which will be funded through its recent land deal with Delhi-based Unitech for Rs 1,582.4 crore.

The authority will be investing Rs 300 crore in the next three years to get 80 cusecs from the Ganges. Currently, 20 cusecs of water from the river is utilised by Noida.

This project will be undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam and the irrigation department. Sanjiv Saran, Chief Executive Officer, Noida Development Authority, said that Rs 525 crore would also have to be paid to the Delhi Metro. Connectivity via the metro is scheduled for 2009.

For urban renewal initiatives, Saran said the authority has planned Project Zero D, or zero discharge, whereby discharged water from Noida will be filtered and used for irrigation. This project will take three years to be completed.

While three flyovers are already under construction, the Noida Development Authority will be sanctioning another four. Rail India Technical and Economic Services is currently in the process of designing these flyovers.

To make distances between Sector 61, Noida and Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi a 15-minute car drive, six signal-free road will be sanctioned. Of these, three will be radial and the other three crossroads, he said.

Saran, along with the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority, is in the process of starting a bus service in August, 2006, that will connect the two suburbs to Delhi.

A special vehicle company has been formed between GNIDA, NDA and the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation. For a rolling stock of 250 buses "" of which half will be air-conditioned "" the two development authorities are investing Rs 60 crore. A state-of-the-art bus terminal will require an additional investment of Rs 50 crore.

The authority will be spending Rs 52 crore on redeveloping the Noida Stadium. It will be adding a seating capacity of 20,000 people to the cricket ground, an indoor swimming pool, a two-storey driving range for golf and a multi-purpose hall.

Saran made it clear that even with this revamping, the stadium would not be able to host international events. Also on the cards is a 100 acre golf course in Sector 101. This will require an investment of Rs 37 crore. On the Expressway, Saran is planning a 20 acre auto mart.

Showrooms of various auto companies will surround a five acre park that will be used by dealers for selling used cars. Saran is also planning to include initiatives for family entertainment in the park.