Ghaziabad: To the respite of thousands of residents of Crossings Republik, the National Highways Authority of India has approved a plan to link the township with the Delhi-Meerut Expressway or National Highway 9 through a loop on the Shahberi road.Construction of the loop, estimated to cost Rs 9.5 crore, is set to commence in December. Since October, NHAI has been working on a proposal to offer direct connectivity between DME/NH9 and Shahberi Road that leads to Crossings Republik township.Land survey, cost analysis and lane entry assessment were conducted to check the viability of the project, said an official from NHAI.A survey undertaken to measure the rate of traffic flow on the speedway showed around 40,000 passenger car units (PCU) use the NH9 per day and 10,000 PCUs use the DME. The proposed loop over DME, the officials said, will not hinder vehicular movement on the expressway as there is a plan to widen the service road.As per the plan, the Shahberi Road near ABES Engineering College cut will be connected through a curved loop which will be an extension of the NH9 on the Delhi to Dasna carriageway.Direct access from the expressway to the township has been a long-standing demand of Crossings residents. They claim that while coming from Delhi, they need to take a long detour to enter the service lane near the Continental Carbon factory and then take a narrow underpass to get to the Shahberi road.The expressway was not developed for commuters from Pratap Vihar side to take a right turn and enter Shahberi road. But after it has been developed, the only way to cross over to Shahberi road is either to use vehicular underpass opposite Continental Carbon factory or a narrow pedestrian underpass, Prabhakar Mishra, a local resident, said.We also published the following articles recentlyKolar road widening work in slow lane; a nightmare for commutersOngoing six lane road construction work in the Kolar area has resulted in severe traffic congestion, causing residents to avoid the main road. The project, which was supposed to be completed within a year, has been delayed and it may take another 3-4 years to finish. The residents are facing numerous difficulties, including crawling traffic, dust from the construction work, and health issues. The poor planning and mismanagement of the road construction have left roads dug up in patches, creating hazards and accidents. Many residents now prefer to walk instead of using vehicles to reach nearby places.Leakage continues to mar underpasses in Delhis heartThe Public Works Department has failed to manage water leakage in the Pragati Maidan underground transit corridor even after one year. Visitors to the Indian International Trade Fair faced slow rides and discolored walls due to water accumulation. The entrance to the tunnel and the underpass near Supreme Court were wet, with water spilling onto the road. The high water table and the presence of a water pipeline caused the leakage. The PWD is working on grouting and covering the drain with concrete casting to fix the problem.Shabby service roads force most to take deadly bypassThe Katraj-Dehu Road bypass in Pune has become a nightmare for motorists due to traffic chaos, accidents, and the presence of heavy vehicles. The condition of the service roads is so terrible that many two-wheeler riders are forced to take the risk of riding through the speeding heavy vehicles. The service roads do not join the highway at the right point and the connecting underpasses are not wide enough. Despite claims of improvement by officials, the ground situation contradicts their assurances. Commuters are left with no choice but to take the bypass, fearing for their safety.

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