NOIDA: Works on a proposed 600-metre bridge, which will boost connectivity between Noida and Faridabad, are likely to begin by mid-2017. The project has been stuck between the two governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for more than a year. Speaking to TOI, P K Agarwal, chief executive officer (CEO), Noida Authority , said that Authority officials met the secretary, Union ministry of urban development (MoUD), on Monday in an attempt to clear the decks.According to Noida Authority officials, another bridge, proposed to connect Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad (FNG) expressway from Noida's Sector 168 with Khedi village in Haryana, is also stuck in red tape. "On Monday, after talking to officials of the Haryana government and the MoUD, it has been decided that the 600-metre bridge, which is proposed to link Noida's Sector 150 with Faridabad's Tilori village, will be completely funded by the Noida Authority," Agarwal said."The second proposed bridge between the FNG expressway from Noida's Sector 168 with Faridabad in Haryana will be constructed by the NHAI as it has taken over the FNG project," he said.Officials said that earlier the Haryana government had agreed to share 50% of the cost of the bridge between Noida's Sector 150 and Tilori village. "However, they have now declined to share the cost, on the pretext that the bridge is not needed as Haryana is already buildng another bridge along the same alignment downstream," R.S Raghav, Noida's project engineer, said."Haryana has now agreed to construct two approach roads measuring about 5-6km for the bridge on their side," Raghav added.Having removed the roadblock, Noida Authority officials are optimistic about starting the ground work on the project in mid-2017. "We have already done the homework on the project including soil testing, hydraulic model study and preparing the detailed project report," Raghav said."Currently, we have estimated the cost of the bridge at Rs 263 crore, but now we have to prepare a detailed estimate of the project according to the new plan. This will take us about 4-5 months, after which we will initiate the tenders for the project," he said. "Once construction starts, the bridge is likely to be ready within two years," he said.The two bridges have already received a nod from NCR Planning Board. The locations of these two projects are proposed on the 75-meter wide FNG road passing between sectors 168 and 187A, while the second bridge will be located on a 75-meter wide road passing between sectors 149A and 150. Since construction of the FNG e-way has been taken over by the NHAI, one bridge will be constructed by the NHAI, while the other by Noida. "Secretary MoUD has also asked the NHAI to expedite the bridge along the FNG e-way," Agarwal said.Once in place, the bridges will provide a major relief to thousands of commuters who will be able to reach Haryana from Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad without crossing Delhi and without getting stuck in gridlocks along the two routes. Currently, commuters coming from Ghaziabad, Hapur, Noida and Greater Noida have to cross Delhi to reach Faridabad. The two bridges would benefit about two lakh commuters in the time to come, which would not only save precious time but also fuel costs would be cut down, officials said.

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