NOIDA: Following a rap from the chairman of Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) on the lack of a pedestrian walkway or exit points to connect Sector 18 market and Atta market on either side of Vijayant Thapar Marg , the Noida Authority on Tuesday surveyed the spot and promised a foot overbridge in the area."We have made a survey of the stretch today. It is surprising that even when a walkway is available via the metro staircase on either side of the road, people still prefer to jump over the barricade. So, we are now planning a foot overbridge which will be specifically for pedestrians. Details of that will soon be worked out," general manager, projects, Noida Authority, Rajiv Tyagi told TOI.This kilometre-long stretch along Captain Vijayant Thapar Marg with Sector 18's commercial hub on one side and the Atta market on the other has become a nightmare of sorts for pedestrians who want to cross over from one side to other."Crossing over from one end to the other along the stretch has become difficult for people. While the Sector 18 metro station does offer a walkway, people seem to be unaware of the facility. Some even end up trying to jump over the 10-foot divider. This is the situation for the past four months after Noida Authority sealed all exits that made crossing from one side to the other possible," said a shopper who frequents the area."You can't suddenly seal an access without creating a convenient alternative. The situation seems perilous as people could easily slip off and get hit by a car. Even for the driver, the anticipation of a person jumping over is a problem. As for the metro walkway, there should be clear signage telling pedestrians that they can walk over the platform to the other side. Else, they should have to build escalators or lifts to help people cross over easily. Our study tells us that most people find it difficult to walk for more than 200 metres on a busy road. To compel people to take shortcuts is sheer wrong planning and the situation should be corrected immediately," Velu Murugan, senior scientist at Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), said.Four months ago, all approach paths from one side to the other were sealed by the Authority after complaints from shop owners of Sector 18. However, nothing was done to ease the situation for those commuters who have been habitually accessing a single cut to reach the other side. In fact, even beyond the Sector 18 market stretch, crossing over to the other side of Captain Vijayant Thapar Marg is difficult due to the absence of a zebra crossing or foot-overbridge at any point along this stretch."We had initially complained to the Authority that the small exit at the barricade be sealed and another entry-exit or crossover point be created for people who want to walk over from one side of the road to the other. The Authority then sealed the barricade to prevent people from walking from one side to the other but they did not build other alternatives. So, instead of solving the problem, it has now become a major issue over past four months," Sushil Kumar Jain, president, Sector 18 market owners association, said.EPCA chairman Bhure Lal, during a meeting to discuss GRAP on pollution last week had point out at the lack of footpaths in Noida that force people to use cars. He had also specifically mentioned about the high barricade at the Sector 18 stretch with no entry or exit points.

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